Most of us environmentalists including MGP members are also strong
believers in having a world class library befitting the rich heritage of
the city. We completely agree with Sri Chennappa of the Library
Department that the current library is a disgrace to our city. If only
we had a responsible library leadership, we would have got a far better
library constructed in a suitable place since it was conceived in 1984.
It could have met the legal as well as the aesthetic requirements to
help the senior citizens, women, reading public, youth etc even in a far
more central and easily accessible location. There must have been
several such sites available since 1984. But our land mafia must have
had a master plan to destroy People's Park.
Now after 20 odd years we learn officially that the library authority was planning to hand over land first meant for park and then for library to private parties who were ready to "donate" a free library. Even assuming for the sake of argument that it is legally permitted to construct a library, how can we be sure that in the future this very library authority will not hand over the building for the use of some commercial authorities? ÿAlso how can we be sure that MCC will not hand over land for other purposes, having ÿonce succeeded in handing over the park land to uses other than park by flouting the law?
Now after 20 odd years we learn officially that the library authority was planning to hand over land first meant for park and then for library to private parties who were ready to "donate" a free library. Even assuming for the sake of argument that it is legally permitted to construct a library, how can we be sure that in the future this very library authority will not hand over the building for the use of some commercial authorities? ÿAlso how can we be sure that MCC will not hand over land for other purposes, having ÿonce succeeded in handing over the park land to uses other than park by flouting the law?
Citizens kept quiet earlier when part of land was handed over to
tennis courts first in the 1950s. At that time there were
no"pseudo-environmentalist" that library authorities were referring to
activists like us. Then another - even larger- portion was handed over
to construct a college for girls. Then also the citizens kept quiet.
Then a temple was erected and no attempt was made to vacate it despite
the protests by few citizens including MGP. Soon a dargah structure
appeared and the citizens did nothing.
However times have changed now. In 90s, with greater
appreciation for environment and also having seen how once Bangalore
city was destroyed,ÿ MGP took up the cause seriously and prevented
library cum commercial buildings coming up in People's Park through a
PIL. Later MGP also prevented portion of the land being handed over for
the use of private bus stand.
Yes, we do need a library. But why should it be in People's Park
and that too in violation of the law? It is a crying shame that neither
MCC officials led by its commissioner and the elected representatives
like MLAs and city corporators are totally indifferent to the cause of
saving lung space or of upholding the law.
We urge MCC and MUDA to identify a suitable land for the library
and take back the People's Park land from the library authority. For
example, library could be located in a dilapidated building where Janata
Bazar is located. There are large CA sites laying vacant inÿ some of
the MUDA layouts and this library building can be built there.
MGP succeeded in getting the illegal structure built in
Cheluvamba park demolished. It was reduced in size to meet the
requirement of Karnataka Park Act. If the library in People's Park were
to face a similar fate, who will be the ultimate losers? It is we the
tax payers.
Bhamy V. Shenoy, Mysore Grahakara Parishat