Bengaluru: Alleging neglect of Cubbon Park, the members of Cubbon Park Walkers’ Association are planning to launch a ‘Save Cubbon Park’ campaign on August 15. “Though Lalbagh and Cubbon Park are the biggest lung spaces in the city, only Lalbagh gets all the attention. Be it major development or the annual flower show, the focus is only on the botanical garden,” said S. Umesh, president of the association.
Members said that number of works inside the park were yet to be completed. “No action has been taken against illegal constructions inside the park. The park still does not have enough security or CCTv cameras. The compound wall is damaged in various places. Instead unnecessary spending is done on renovating the statues and creating concrete footpaths. The Horticulture department is yet to develop 17 acres of area into a lawn. Unlike Lalbagh, there is hardly any investment made on Cubbon Park,” he said.
As a mark of protest, the association members are planning not to celebrate Independence Day. “We will not be hoisting flag at the park. Instead walkers will go around the park and raise slogans against the neglect,” said Mr. Umesh.
Refuting the allegation, Mahantesh Murgod, Deputy Director of Horticulture, Cubbon Park, said that enough development work was taking placed at Cubbon Park. “We are working with BESCOM to install 300 smart lights inside the park. We have also identified 100 places for installing CCTV cameras. Already, 10 have been installed. There is enough security inside the park. We have employed 22 security personnel to man the park.”
