Naming of park kicks a row in Mandya

Now, the controversy has turned towards the naming of parks. Take the case of Cauvery Park developed under the Horticulture Department and Gandhi Park under a private institution.

A park located in Shankarnagar Layout, which is one of the main areas of the city is courting controversy. While, the park is being developed by Adichunchangiri Mutt Seer Balagangadharnatha Swamiji, the Shankarnagar Layout was developed by the late K V Shankargowda, who originally named the park. Locals claim that a naming stone installed by Shankargowda is also present in the park.

A few others say that even though the park was named by K V Shankargowda, it is recognised as Ambujamma Park. Probably due to the close proximity of former CMC president Ambujamma’s house.

Recently, Shankarnagar-Kuvempunagar Citizen’s forum named the park after the seer’s name. The mutt came forward to develop the park. However, controversies started emerging causing the postponement of the naming ceremony.

Forum office-bearer Krishna said that CMC has already taken decision earlier to name the park after the seer. However, they were forced to postpone the function because of controversy over naming the park. “We don’t want to start work in such a state of confusion and chaos”, he said.

As the park will be included in ward number 15, CMC member Sridhar said that when members of the citizens forum asked him about naming the park after the seer, he suggested that everybody be taken into confidence on the issue. He said that it is true that the CMC has taken the decision to name the park after the seer. However, he said the he was not present in the council at that time.

Sridhar said that records will be reviewed and suitable decision will be made based on the opinion of all the people concerned. The contribution of the Seer and Shankaragowda to the development of the district, has been priceless.

However, the decision to review records of the park has bought the issue to a temporary halt.