Recently S. A. Ramdas, MLA and the Parliamentary Secretary to Chief Minister, Government of Karnataka, went on a padayatra in Ward No. 63 comprising Siddartha Layout, Kurubarahalli, Alanahalli and K. C. Nagar. Among the issues he addressed included establishment of a Horticultural Park on a 3. 5 acre land near Lalitha Mahal Palace.

As we know, already a Heritage Park is coming up on an area of 32 acres, according to Joshi, Assistant Engineer of MUDA, in - charge of this Heritage Park, in front of Lalitha Mahal Palace abutting the helipad. I do not know where Ramdas is planning to have this Horticultural Park. But if it is on a land where there is already a mango grove belonging to the Horticultural Department, the land area available here is 10 acres. This is abutting to Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel campus and also the Helipad. According to the legend written on a signboard affixed to the gate of this horticultural garden facing T. Narasipur Road, this was established in 1956 and presently has 341 mango trees occupying an area of 10 acres. I understand, somebody has encroached some area of this land, as usually happens with all urban government lands. Therefore, it is advisable that the government establishes the proposed Horticulture Park in this 10 - acre horticultural garden, which is in a state of neglect.

The mango trees here are not looked after well and are withering. Hope Ramdas will take the initiative in not only saving this land for the people of our city but also for establishing the Horticulture Park. Otherwise, the urban land sharks in nexus with politicians and Revenue Officers will swallow this land leaving just 3. 5 acres for Ramdas because he has already said so in public!

While on the subject, Ramdas may as well consider setting up of a Botanical Garden at the foot of Chamundi Hill on the land extending from Tavarekatte to the main gate of Indus Valley Ayurvedic Centre. Many have made their claims on this huge vacant land, by either fencing or digging trenches to establish their ownership. However, if the Government feels the Botanical Garden is important for our city, then it may acquire this land by paying compensation for setting up the same. We have already got a Zoological Garden, the Zoo. The Botanical Garden will indeed complement the Zoological Garden. If the Government does not act now it will be too late. As it is, builders are on the job. It is useless to locate a Botanical Garden in the outskirts of the city where it is expensive and far away for a common man to reach.

In US, in all such cases, the principle of “Eminent Domain” is applied. This is the right of the government to appropriate private property for public cause. Of course, here too private land acquisition is made for the same reason. But sadly the vested interest of politicians and the bureaucracy come in the way of acquiring land for such public purpose like a Botanical Garden.

In New York City there is what is known as a Central Park covering an area of 843 acres, which is 6 % of Manhattan and surrounded by important land marks, including the famous New York Public Library.

Hope our Administrators and Planners have vision and do not turn myopic focusing only on day – to - day administration. After all, it is our country. We must try to build our city today for the tomorrow of our children even if politicians and officers belong to some other city!

Couple of years ago I had taken some politicians to Tavarekatte on way to Chamundi Hill for showing them the location for a dream Botanical Garden. As expected nothing happened. I hope the concerned citizens will form a Support Group to create a wonderful lung space for our better tomorrow.

Here let me also act as a whistle - blower to our NGOs. There was a move by some Horticultural officials and other social activists (read whatever way you like) to carve out about 40 acres of land at the enclosed forest area of the Hill facing Indus Valley Ayurvedic Centre for a Botanical Garden via MUDA. I too had been to inspect the area with those people and I protested. This, I later learnt, was a clever move to appropriate the vast area lying across the road by private parties. This was also the area that came under the now shelved Nehru Loka.

Many years ago, when S. Bangarappa was the Chief Minister and the K.C. Nagar, near Lalitha Mahal Palace, had not happened, I told the then CITB Chairman Govindaraju, a close confidante of Bangarappa, to create a Botanical Garden here and call it “Bangarada Bana” in honour of Bangarappa. Sadly K. C. Nagar Layout was created instead and ironically today I live here! What a paradox!!