Destruction of park in Mysore

To,
The Chief Secretary,
Karnataka State,
Bengaluru

Sir,

Attached photographs are of a place which not long ago was a well maintained park called Sanjeevini Park. Centrally located beside Kamakshi Hospital, Kuvempu Nagar, Mysore, it was a very popular park especially patronized by the elderly and the children.

Then a local corporator decided to change its name to Happy Man Park and to “develop” it. This work has been going on for the last one year. Now a No Entry board is hanging at the ghastly entrance with security persons stopping people from entering the place. Even otherwise, the park is not usable, becuase of the construction material lying all over. Elderly people now sit on the stone base of the grill around the park cursing the administration and the corporator for this state of affairs.

This wanton destruction of a well maintained park not only speaks of the collusion between the political masters and the government administrative machinery but also raises the question of violation of many laws. Some of them are:

1. The Karnataka Parks, Playfields and Open Spaces (preservation and Regulation) Rules, 1985, under which no structure can be constructed within the park if it is less than 2 ha in area and just a watchman’s shed (not exceeding 30 sq.m.) if the area of the park exceeds 2 ha. As against this in this park entire area is dug up, provision is being made to construct shops on one side of the boundary of the park, a high level water tank is being constructed, many sheds for the birds and animals have been built and are being built. In brief the entire park area has been used for the construction of a mini-zoo!!

2. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 is being wantonly flouted as one can see birds and other animals being caged and left without being taken care of. Many birds are said to have been killed for want of necessary care.

3. Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and the The Guidelines of the Central Zoo Authority have been flouted.

We request you to order an enquiry into this entire sordid act. It is surprising as to how such wanton violation of laws have occurred and as to how the officers of the Mysore City Corporation have either overlooked or even connived with such blatant violation.

Mysore City is not any small town. It is a city with a great heritage in terms of culture and civic facilities. If this wanton act can happen here in Mysore one shudders to imagine as to what would be situation in other towns and cities of the state.

Yours sincerely,
R Chandra Prakash,
Convener, 
Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP)