Protests staged at Lingambudhi & Cheluvamba Parks
Mysuru: Residents and organisations staged separate protests at Lingambudhi Park in Ramakrishnanagar and at Cheluvamba Park in Yadavagiri this morning.
While the protest at Lingambudhi Park was against fixing entry fee, the protest at Cheluvamba Park was against the Government’s decision to let go 5 percent of park space for infrastructure projects.
At Lingambudhi Park, morning and evening walkers, residents, members of Lingambudhi Mitrara Balaga and All India Democratic Youth Organisation (AIDYO) staged a protest against fixing of entry fee for the public.
Lingambudhi Nagara Vayuviharigala Samithi member P. Sandhya said that the Forest Department should completely stop the entry fee for the park and not just exempting morning and evening walkers. The Forest Department should not impose entry fee at any time, she added.
Pointing out that the Forest Department has stated that entry fee will be imposed from 10 am to 4.40 pm and if at all it is imposed, a day will come when the department will surely extend the timing, Sandhya said that the Samithi opposed the entry fee to the park.
Lingambudhi Mirara Balaga President Nagesh, who too spoke said, “Exempting only morning and evening walkers from the entry fee burden and collecting fee from others from 10.30 am to 4 pm has been opposed from the public. This move of fixing entry fee to the park by the Forest Department is condemnable.”
Protest against Government’s decision to let go 5 percent of park space for infrastructure projects at Cheluvamba Park.
Nagesh warned of intensifying the protest if the Forest Department did not roll back entry fee decision.
Lingambudhi Nagara Vayuviharigala Samithi member Siddesh and Lingambudhi Mitrara Balaga Treasurer Bharat said that Lingambudhi Lake and Park is an open nature spots where hundreds of people come daily for walks to keep good health and enjoy nature. Imposing entry fee for the public is an unnecessary burden which is condemnable.
AIDYO District President T.R. Sunil said that Mysuru residents pay for park maintenance while paying their Property Tax. When maintenance fee is already being collected, imposing entry fee to the park is unscientific and broad-light robbery.
Sunil also said that AIDYO had also protested against such a proposal four years ago following which the proposal was taken back and hence the Forest Department should completely take back this proposal.
Meanwhile, Range Forest Officer (RFO) Srinivas, who received a memorandum from the protestors said that entry fee for morning and evening walkers has been lifted and the demand to lift the entry fee for others from 7 am to 10.30 am and from 4 pm to 7 pm would be considered.
Ranjith, Poornima, Shivakumar, Avinash, Rajanna and over 300 morning and evening walkers took part in the protest.
At Cheluvamba Park
Meanwhile, members of Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP), MLA T.S. Srivatsa, MLC Raghu Kautilya, former MP Prathap Simha, residents, various organisations and public, to show their opposition to the implementation of the Bill to amend the Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975, allowing portions of park and garden land to be used for public infrastructure and utility projects, staged a protest at Cheluvamba Park at Yadavagiri this morning.
The protestors said at present, the Act allows only 5 percent of park space for maintenance of parks and not for other purposes but the Government’s decision to let go of the 5 percent of park space for infrastructure projects was like opening the flood gates to destroy the parks across the State in the name of ‘public good.’
MGP Working President S.K. Dinesh said that gomala (cattle grazing land), lakes, footpaths, Raja Kaluves, playgrounds and public spaces have already been encroached upon and now, the State Government eyes have fallen on parks.
Pointing out that there is a big mafia behind this, Dinesh said that this is nothing but a scheme to make money using public assets. “We will not allow even one inch of park land to be sold or encroached and the public have joined hands to fight for this cause,” he warned.
He said that MGP has already written a letter to the Governor requesting him not to approve the Bill passed in the Assembly and warned of intensifying the protest if park lands are utilised for infrastructure and utility projects.
This post was published on August 30, 2026 7:30 pm