If the suggestions being mooted by various quarters are accepted by the authorities concerned, CCTV cameras could be watching you at Lalbagh and Cubbon Park soon. During a meeting of various stakeholders of Cubbon Park organised by the Cubbon Park Walkers’ Association here on Monday, the possibility of installing CCTVs on the premises of the city’s two most important lung spaces was discussed.
Speaking to presspersons later, D.L. Maheshwar, Director of Horticulture, said the proposal was being discussed at the government level. “They may first be installed at Lalbagh. It will help in monitoring vehicles that enter during unauthorised hours, keeping a watch on sensitive areas, [providing] security to walkers, and so on,” he said.
Parking and traffic
The proposal to divert traffic from within the park, which had sparked off a debate last time, was raked up again by Upalokayukta Subash B. Adi. However, everyone present agreed that this cannot be done at least until the Namma Metro chugs into the Cubbon Park station.
As for “banning” parking within the premises altogether, it was discussed whether it could be implemented at least during the weekends for certain time slots. When M.G. Subramaniam, ACP (Traffic), Central division, contested this saying there were no alternative spaces outside Cubbon Park, Mr. Adi suggested that Nrupathunga Road and Kasturba Road be used for the purpose as traffic was lean on these roads during the weekends. It was finally decided to form a working committee to look into it.
Plastic ban
The issue of plastic within the park was brought up. Mahantesh Murgod, Deputy Director of Horticulture, said the department had collected Rs. 15,000 as fine from offenders in one and a half months. “We are ensuring that no plastic is strewn across the park,” he added.
The department also invited sponsorships from private parties for the ‘green fencing’ of Cubbon Park, which would be taken up soon.
Restaurants
While all the participants agreed that restaurants should not be allowed within the park, the question of allowing roadside vendors was also raised. Even as some vendors who were allegedly evicted from near Bal Bhavan complained of losing a livelihood outside the meeting venue, department officials maintained that they were being allowed to conduct business outside the gate.
Members of Bangalore Political Action Committee (B.PAC) complained about the large number of stray dogs, to which environmentalist A.N. Yellappa Reddy agreed saying the faecal matter from the dogs was also affecting air quality by spreading pathogens. However, no decision was taken about keeping pet and stray dogs away from the park.
Other suggestions from B.PAC, such as holding a ‘Sunday bazaar’ and constructing a ‘canopy skywalk’ in the park met with lukewarm response.
