The government has held a foundation stone laying ceremony for building
a public library in People's Park. Use of a park for non-park uses is
prohibited by the Karnataka Parks, Play Fields and Open Spaces Act of
1985. When a similar project was undertaken in 2000, MGP filed a writ
petition before the Karnataka High Court and the project was dropped.
Then there were plans to convert the same park into a private bus
stand., but widespread public protests stopped it. The law has not
changed, but the government is trying its luck one more time.
Lack of space in the present central public library is cited as
one of the reasons for building the library. But the present location is
far superior as far as access, especially to the elderly and the poor,
is concerned. Furthermore, there is the law of the land against the new
location.
Environmentally concerned residents of Mysore will assemble on
Sunday, May 27th at 10 AM in People's Park (opposite Madhwesha Complex
on Male Mahadeshwara Road) to urge a stop to further encroachment of the
park. Several prominent citizens of Mysore as well as Mysore Grahakara
Parishat and Mysore Youth Forum have already extended support to this
campaign. For more information please call MGP at 2515150.
B.V. Shenoy, Mysore Grahakara Parishat