Mysuru: Hundreds of city residents staged a protest at Cheluvamba Park here on Saturday opposing the proposed amendment to the Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975, which allows 5% of park and garden land to be utilised for public infrastructure and utility projects.Krishnaraja MLA TS Srivatsa, MLC R Raghu, former MP Pratap Simmha, Mysuru Grahakara Vedike founding working president Bhamy V Shenoy, working president SK Dinesh and others led the protest.Later, young agitators took out a silent protest march around the park, urging state govt to withdraw the proposed amendment. The protesters also appealed to the governor not to give his assent to the Bill.Speaking at the protest, the agitators criticised chief minister DK Shivakumar and questioned the intention behind the proposed amendment. They asked the CM: “Are you the custodian or the proprietor of this state? You are not behaving like a custodian. You are behaving like a proprietor.”Referring to Bengaluru’s lakes, they said the city once had more than 1,000 lakes, many of which had been encroached upon.“Raja Kaluves (stormwater drains) have also been encroached upon. Now, you are targeting parks,” they alleged.
