Vadodara: Congress leaders are set to protest the “Sankalp for Stupa” project undertaken in Sayajibaug in the city. Former president of the Congress city unit Narendra Rawat said that the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) is wiping out the green spaces in the garden that’s visited by thousands every day.“The VMC has already dug up and laid concrete pillars for the project on the lawns near Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery which is a heritage building. Gardens are green spaces that are supposed to be kept free of concrete constructions. The civic body is destroying one of the largest gardens in the city. We will be holding demonstrations against the project on Tuesday morning,” Rawat said.The VMC is planning to build a large torch-shaped monument in Sayajibaug but the officials haven’t shared details of the project. “A major portion of the garden is already closed to visitors. Now, the civic body is gradually wiping out on the remaining open spaces too. They have installed three giant solar trees in the garden apart from iron railings that have spoilt the beauty of Sayajibaug,” Rawat added.The VMC had in the past tried to build a laser show and butterfly park but morning walkers and the Congress had opposed it by calling it “concretisation of Sayajibaug”. Municipal commissioner Arun Mahesh Babu said, “We initiated the project called Sankalp for Stupa where a torch-shaped monument is being constructed.” He, however, didn’t comment if the VMC would continue with the project amid the protests.Former councillor Ami Ravat, who also runs an environmental NGO, said Sayajibaug has been declared as a heritage garden and no construction should be done inside the park.
