<p>After amending the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975, a fifth time, it has now been declared that an area of 18,028.35 square metres between the High Court and the Old KGID building adjacent to the Ambedkar Veedhi will be allowed for parking the vehicles of judges, lawyers and visitors who enter the court premises.<br /><br />According to Horticulture Minister S A Ravindranath, the increasing number of vehicles entering the high court has forced the authorities to open the gates of the Cubbon Park, yet again, for providing parking facility. <br /><br />“With an increasing number of vehicles coming to the high court there was a demand from the high court for additional parking. The decision taken by the Cabinet was to provide some space in Cubbon Park,” Ravindranath said.<br /><br />Trees to be spared<br />However, the Minister said the parking facility will not involve chopping of trees or harming the green cover in any way to facilitate the parking of vehicles. This was echoed by Law Minister Suresh Kumar who said that under no circumstances will any construction be allowed to take place inside Cubbon Park. Welcoming on behalf of lawyers the government’s move to amend the Parks (Preservation) Act, High Court Advocates’ Association president K N Puttegowda said: “With the new canteen construction within the court premises we have lost space to park at least 100 more vehicles. Every day there is a vehicle density of over 5,000 four- and two-wheelers at the court. We badly needed the space.” <br /><br />The facility to park vehicles within the Cubbon Park premises and other public spaces, including Lalbagh and the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park, was provided by previous governments. </p>.<p>According to government sources, the space that will be carved out once the amended law is implemented may very well be permanent.<br /><br />In the past four instances, the amendment to the Act, done for development projects, led to giving away 1,135 sq mts of Lalbagh land for Metro rail construction. A large chunk of land — 1,223 sq mts — of the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain was carved out for the BBMP’s road widening project. The Cubbon Park jurisdiction was relaxed twice before for various purposes.<br /><br />The total land, measuring 13,286.71 sq mts, adjoining the high court and the Vidhan Soudha was permitted to be used for other development projects. <br /></p>
<p>After amending the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975, a fifth time, it has now been declared that an area of 18,028.35 square metres between the High Court and the Old KGID building adjacent to the Ambedkar Veedhi will be allowed for parking the vehicles of judges, lawyers and visitors who enter the court premises.<br /><br />According to Horticulture Minister S A Ravindranath, the increasing number of vehicles entering the high court has forced the authorities to open the gates of the Cubbon Park, yet again, for providing parking facility. <br /><br />“With an increasing number of vehicles coming to the high court there was a demand from the high court for additional parking. The decision taken by the Cabinet was to provide some space in Cubbon Park,” Ravindranath said.<br /><br />Trees to be spared<br />However, the Minister said the parking facility will not involve chopping of trees or harming the green cover in any way to facilitate the parking of vehicles. This was echoed by Law Minister Suresh Kumar who said that under no circumstances will any construction be allowed to take place inside Cubbon Park. Welcoming on behalf of lawyers the government’s move to amend the Parks (Preservation) Act, High Court Advocates’ Association president K N Puttegowda said: “With the new canteen construction within the court premises we have lost space to park at least 100 more vehicles. Every day there is a vehicle density of over 5,000 four- and two-wheelers at the court. We badly needed the space.” <br /><br />The facility to park vehicles within the Cubbon Park premises and other public spaces, including Lalbagh and the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park, was provided by previous governments. </p>.<p>According to government sources, the space that will be carved out once the amended law is implemented may very well be permanent.<br /><br />In the past four instances, the amendment to the Act, done for development projects, led to giving away 1,135 sq mts of Lalbagh land for Metro rail construction. A large chunk of land — 1,223 sq mts — of the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain was carved out for the BBMP’s road widening project. The Cubbon Park jurisdiction was relaxed twice before for various purposes.<br /><br />The total land, measuring 13,286.71 sq mts, adjoining the high court and the Vidhan Soudha was permitted to be used for other development projects. <br /></p>
