The Cubbon Park Walkers' Association has strongly opposed a government plan to build a skating rink inside Bengaluru's Cubbon Park. The association calls the project a wasteful use of resources that threatens the park's green space.
Plan for Skating Rink Draws Criticism
The Jawahar Bal Bhavan Society together with the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports proposed the skating rink. They want to construct it on half an acre of land within the Bal Bhavan premises. The estimated cost for this project stands at 1.5 crore rupees.
S Umesh serves as the President of the Cubbon Park Walkers' Association. He stated that a skating rink in Cubbon Park is completely unnecessary. "A high-quality skating rink already exists at the Sri Kanteerava Stadium, just across the road from Cubbon Park," Umesh explained.
"Building a second rink in the city's lung space represents a redundant use of resources. It offers no extra public benefit while causing significant environmental harm," he added.
Fears of Urbanization and Concretization
The CPWA president expressed deep concerns about ongoing urbanization pressures. He described Cubbon Park as facing a creeping threat from urban development for many years.
"The CPWA sees this latest proposal as another step toward systematic concretization. It targets one of Bengaluru's last remaining green bastions," Umesh stated firmly.
He emphasized the ecological importance of preserving every square meter of natural earth. "Every square metre of concrete laid means a square metre of earth lost to the city's ecosystem. Cubbon Park is not a playground for civil engineering projects," he declared.
The park functions as an ecological hotspot according to the association. It serves as a vital carbon sink and provides sanctuary for local flora and fauna.
Demand for Withdrawal and Ban
The Cubbon Park Walkers' Association has made clear demands to the Karnataka government. They want authorities to withdraw the skating rink proposal immediately.
Beyond just stopping this particular project, the association seeks a broader commitment. They demand a total ban on any new concrete structure within Cubbon Park's boundaries.
This opposition comes as Bengaluru continues to grapple with balancing development and environmental preservation. The city's green spaces face increasing pressure from various infrastructure projects.
The walkers' association represents regular park users who value Cubbon Park as essential green infrastructure. They argue that protecting such spaces remains crucial for the city's environmental health and residents' wellbeing.
