War memorial in City gets SC approval

 
Dismissing a petition by Bangalore-based The Krishna Apartment Owners’ Welfare Association, a Bench comprising Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly observed that there was no alienation of land and the structure would be constructed underground.

A Division Bench of the Karnataka High Court on June 4 had dismissed the PIL filed by the association challenging the construction of the memorial.

Karnataka Advocate General Ashok Haranhalli, Senior advocates Aftab Alam, Udaya Holla and Anitha Shenoy appearing for Karnataka government and other organisations submitted that there was no alienation or transfer of land while granting permission to construct the memorial.

The State Government and the Indian Army have planned to construct the martyr’s memorial and a 10,000 sq ft underground auditorium in a six acre land earmarked for the purpose, Shenoy submitted.

On 17 acres

Indira Gandhi Memorial Park is located in 17 acres and the greenery will be restored after the construction of the memorial, he said.

Most of the memorial structure will be underground and only four eucalyptus trees have been felled for the structure, he added.

National Military Memorial Trust has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister of Karnataka and members from Army and Home department for the maintenance of the memorial, said the state government.

Violation of Act

The association advocate argued that the construction work would go against the provisions of the Karnataka Park (Preservation) Act, 1975, which says that no land from any existing park would be transferred for any other purpose.

Sajan Poorvaya, a member of the executive committee, said this would be the first war memorial to be constructed in the country after independence.