Bengaluru: Walkers and skaters protest to reclaim Cubbon Park

The Cubbon Park Walkers’ Association (CPWA) protested a decision to allow vehicles inside the Cubbon Park on weekends and holidays. The protest took place on October 2nd. The issue came to the forefront as there were many visiting the Bal Bhavan located within the premises of Cubbon Park. The protestors have claimed that the facility of parking their vehicles can be provided outside of the park. “The horticulture department is planning to allow vehicles inside Cubbon Park every Saturday and on holidays. We will be protesting against this. There are only two fresh green spaces in Bengaluru-Lalbagh and Cubbon Park. We will have to be answerable to future generations. Out of 300 acres, it has been reduced to 196 acres and they keep taking away more spaces illegally,” President of CPWA, Umesh Kumar said in an interaction with the Bangalore Mirror. 

“This park has been preserved by the efforts of CM Siddaramaiah in his previous tenure. He has a keen interest in the conservation of nature. We have a belief that he would understand our concerns,” Umesh Kumar added. 

Bengaluru skaters have also been using the venue for their training. “With this space gone, there will be no space left for urban skating and we will have to confine ourselves to commercial spaces or the normal dangerous roads. It will be disastrous for the entire community,” said Divye Kerde, a member of Bengaluru Skaters in an interaction with the Bangalore Mirror.