Opposition to 7-storey building in Cubbon Park

An online petition opposing the project received 941 signatories on Tuesday

The old office of the Election Commissioner in Cubbon Park, which is expected to make way for the seven-storey structure.

Several environmental activists and heritage experts have opposed the construction of a seven-storey building, which is proposed to be the new annexe building of the Karnataka High Court, within Cubbon Park.

The old office of the Election Commissioner will be demolished to make way for the new structure. The Karnataka High Court recently gave the go-ahead for the project.

Priya Chetty-Rajagopal, one of the founders of Heritage Beku, underscored the need to preserve the ‘beloved lung spaces of Bengaluru’ for future generations. An online petition opposing the project received 941 signatories on Tuesday.

The group has said that the proposed seven-storey building could come up in another area where there is significantly less environmental and social impact. They suggested retaining the original building and using it as an office of the tourism department or as a museum.

Bimal Desai, who has been crusading for the protection of Cubbon Park, expressed concern that the project would pave the way for more such construction and eventual conversion of the green space into a parking lot.