The State government on Tuesday informed the Legislative Council that all basic infrastructure, including toilets, would be provided at Lalbagh and Cubbon Park, the two major public gardens in Bangalore.
Leader of the House S.R. Patil made this promise during question hour, responding to a question by nominated member Doddarange Gowda on the facilities provided in these two places. Mr. Patil intervened when the members were not happy with the reply provided by Horticulture Minister Shamanur Shivashankarappa.
Earlier, Mr. Shivashankarappa said an estimated 10,500 and 3,000 people visited Lalbagh and Cubbon Park every day. The department has collected Rs. 4.6 crore as entry fees at Lalbagh during the last two years. This garden has public toilets and drinking water facility at all the four entries while Cubbon Park has two toilets, one near Bandstand and another near Hudson Circle and drinking water facility near Bandstand, near Chamarajendra Wadiyar statue and in front of State Central Library.
Mr. Gowda said the two gardens have been witnessing heavy tourist influx and the existing facilities were insufficient. He demanded that more toilets and drinking water facilities be provided.
Responding to a suggestion by Mr. Gowda to grow bamboo fence surrounding Cubbon Park instead of regular fencing, Mr. Shivashankarappa said bamboo was susceptible to fire and hence iron fencing was suitable. There was no proposal to set up similar parks in Bangalore due to non-availability of space, he added.