Bengaluru's Cubbon Park Saved As Karnataka Govt Scraps 10-Storey Building Plan After Public Outcry

The Karnataka Government yielded to public pressure and scrapped plans for a ten-storey building in Bengaluru's Cubbon Park. Initially intended to house the Election Commission and various government departments, the decision faced backlash due to the need for tree felling.

Environmentalists and the public vehemently opposed the project, culminating in a protest by the Walkers' Association on Sunday (Feb. 12), prompting the government to reverse its stance.

The state government had planned to build the new structure to house offices of the Election Commission and other government departments. However, the Karnataka High Court had ordered that no trees could be cut down during construction.

This led to a public outcry, with many people arguing that the park should be preserved as a green space. The Walkers' Association even held a protest at Cubbon Park on Sunday, February 12th.

In response to the pressure, the state government has now backtracked on its plans. Officials of the public works department (PWD), who've been entrusted with the execution of the project, said alternatives are being looked at.

Retired IFS officer and former environment secretary AN Yellappa Reddy told News18 that decisions like building multi-storeys in green spaces like Cubbon Park or proposing a six-lane elevated highway in Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) represent "mindless development" that prioritizes politicians' gains over citizens' livability.

The decision has been welcomed by environmentalists and the public. The government is now considering alternative locations for the new offices. However, it has assured the public that no other green spaces will be targeted.

In 2019, the registrar of the high court filed a petition seeking approval to build an administrative block within Cubbon Park, near the court's premises. This proposal was met with strong opposition from environmentalists and the walker's association, who expressed concerns about potential ecological damage.

Following this, the HC requested a comprehensive proposal from the PWD department to find a suitable location for the annexe building. The initial plan suggested a seven-storey structure behind the court, which would have required the removal of 17 trees, road diversions, and other modifications. However, the court rejected this proposal. Subsequently, it approved the construction of the building with a revised plan from the PWD that avoided tree removal and road diversions.