Parks are back in fashion in Bangalore, once known as India's garden city, where parks and elaborate gardens had slowly fallen into disuse. With increasingly stifling pollution, and rapid reduction of "lung space," the city's civic authorities and the peoples bodies are joining hands to bring the green back to the numerous parks and gardens. Already over 50 local residents' associations and non-governmental organisations have come forward to protect and maintain parks and gardens in Bangalore. "There had been rising awareness among the local residents to create new parks and to retain the old parks that required proper maintenance. We wish to hand over the upkeep of these parks to the local residents and non-governmental organisations," said newly elected Bangalore mayor Prema Cariappa. Ms Cariappa said it was her ambition to protect and maintain the existing gardens and parks, while forming new gardens and parks in the city suburbs. The city civic council has already completed the remodeling of some of the small parks and gardens besides a few other bigger parks that badly needed maintenance. One of those projects that attract many onlookers today is the Harihara Gudda park in Hanumanthanagar. "There were a lot of undulations in the park (Harihara Gudda) and it was strewn with rocks. We have levelled the area retaining the old structures and provided green lighting in the night by spending Rs 67 lakh (Rs 6.7 million)," said Deputy Commissioner Muddukrishna, who is in charge of the Horticulture council. Some top business houses have also stepped forward to help in the greening.
Petrochemicals giant Reliance Group will nurture four triangular parks near one the most polluted areas of the city near its state legislature. One of the country's top liquor giants, United Breweries has shown interest to upkeep a prime boulevard. A top departmental store and a swank hotel were also interested in developing two parks near the city airport. City officials have decided to develop a 40-acre nursery as a supply point for flowering plants and tree saplings to meet the present demand.
(India Abroad News Service)
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