Nod for installing statues near Vidhana Soudha

Decks have been cleared for construction around Vidhana Soudha and Vikasa Soudha as both Houses of the State Legislature on Wednesday passed an amendment bill which excludes the land surrounding the two landmarks from Cubbon Park area.

The Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Bill, 2013 was passed by a voice vote in both the Houses. In the Council, Leader of the House, S R Patil, said the amendment was necessary and stated that only 49 acres, 39 guntas would be excluded from the park area.

“I head the committee to instal Mahatma Gandhi statue between Vidhana Soudha and Vikasa Soudha, and we have faced the practical difficulties in this regard. Hence, we have taken this decision and requested the Opposition to support the bill,” he said. He further said that the bill would help take up other repair and development works.

Leader of the Opposition, D V Sadananda Gowda, said that his party (the BJP) would not oppose the bill as it was meant to instal the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. “But our concern is there should be appropriate utilisation of the act”, he maintained.

According to the statement of objects and reasons for the bill, the government was finding it difficult to take up development works at Legislators’ Home circle in the northern direction, the road starting from Lokayukta office covering Gopala Gowda circle and Police Thimmaiah circle in the south, and the junction covering the boundaries of Raj Bhavan and Thimmaiah circle in the eastern part. The amendment to the Act will now remove the impediments in this regard.

Accordingly, the government, subject to certain conditions, can now permit construction, maintenence, management and other works in 1802.35-sq mtr stretch between High Court and the old KGID building.