The government on Thursday announced that the work on car parking bay at Lalbagh had been stopped for now. Addressing reporters, horticulture minister S Ravindranath said that status quo would be maintained.
The minister said the work was undertaken to provide parking facility to Lalbagh visitors. “We can’t ask visitors to come to the park without their vehicles. Families come to the park in cars. Since there is no space available in the vicinity for vehicle parking as Metro work is under progress and colleges and schools are closely located, it was decided to provide a parking bay,” he explained.
Horticulture department principal secretary MK Shankarlinge Gowda said that the parking bay was planned to attract tourists and visitors. The government has formed a three-member committee to submit recommendations on the issue.
“Environmentalists are also being consulted and a decision will be based on their take. We have not given any time frame for the committee, whenever they submit the report, a decision will be taken based on the recommendations,” he added.
Ravindranath maintained that he would call a meeting of the officials to discuss the falling standards of the HOPCOMS centre. It was created to purchase fruits and vegetables from farmers and sell it to people at reasonable prices.
When it was brought to minister’s notice that HOPCOMS are making purchases from traders, instead of farmers, and selling them at higher prices, Ravindranath said that he would definitely look into the issue and take action.
Ravindranath also said that Rs6 crore grant had been given for the development of Bagalkot Horticulture University. The department is also intending to construct a glass house in Belgaum at a cost of Rs3 crore, he added.
Ravindranath maintained that the department had spent about 50% of the money allotted in the state budget.”About 1,748 hectares of land had been developed under comprehensive horticulture development programme. Special package for potato growers was also announced,” he said.
