The Queen’s Garden or Rani Bagicha or Rani chi Bagh in Camp Belagavi was one of the tourist attractions for outsiders and even the locals. A peaceful place where students studied and scored remarkable marks in the exams will now be converted into a residential complex for the army personnel.
Spread across 3.2 acres this garden was built by the Britishers somewhere in 1878.
The Cantonment Board of Belgaum in January 2011 decided to start an eco park spread over 3.2 acres next to the Queens Garden. Nor the Eco park nor the somehow maintained Queens garden has been looked after.
Today the subject is on the agenda for the change of Land use at the Cantonment board meeting.
Handing over of Class ‘C’ Land bearing GLR Survey No.124/B, taking over of GLR No.120.
The army does require more space to make residential complexes for the army personnel but why should such complexes come on spaces reserved for Garden and this garden was built way back in 1878 or where about.
The Cantonment is the only part of the city where the green cover looks a bit maintained as so construction activity is easily permitted.
If such gardens are to be converted into residential complexes and the diminishing green cover will have a greater impact on the city as a whole.
Today in the meeting when the matter will come up for discussion we hope the elected representatives will raise their voice and convince the Chair that saving the green cover is need of the hour and land for construction of residential quarters can be sought somewhere else where there is no green cover or is barren.
We need to save the Queens Garden, its not about hurting someone, its about saving the green cover for the next generations.
It is very sad that nobody is bother about nature.
Suggestion:Army has land besides KLE hospital they can use it for residential complex and Queens graden should be improved for public use.
This must be stopped at any cost. Green cover should not be compromised as it can cause plenty of health hazards.