How good the proposed heritage park at the Vaccine Institute here will look if the Government goes ahead with its plan to provide facilities it has on its agenda at the institute?
The Belgaum Urban Development Authority (BUDA) has planned walkers pathway, joggers pathway, swimming pool (international standard), children’s amusement park and zoo, musical fountain and waterfalls/hanging bridge, boating, landscapes, art gallery, mono rail, recreation club, snack centre (with canteen and ice cream parlor), badminton hall/shuttles/billiards, volleyball, basketball, lawn tennis courts and medicinal plants.
In contrast to this typical bureaucratic approach to preserving heritage, local environmental organizations and activists have come out with suggestions to develop the park in a way befitting its name “heritage park” instead of developing the institute into a modern public garden. There are 22 public gardens in the city, many of which are symbolic of the indifferent attitude of those concerned towards such beautiful lung spaces.
The Social Justice Forum, headed by Chief Executive Officer of Polyhydron Pvt. Ltd., S.B. Hundre, who converted his company into a “business ashram” by blending business and ethics, has suggested that an expert committee be appointed to propose steps and monitor all development activities on the institute without harming its ecology.
Meanwhile, there have been conflicting views on appointing an outside agency for consultation and to take up development works. However, the BUDA, which had convened a meeting to elicit views from environmentalists, architects and consultants on the issue on November 3, has promised more such meetings. Sources in the BUDA told The Hindu here on Tuesday that the matter is under consideration. However, the delay in completing the process of developing the proposed heritage park is making organizations and voluntary activists impatient.
Source The Hindu