The Hindu : Entry fee to Lalbagh may be raised

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 18, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Entry fee to Lalbagh may be raised

By Our Staff Reporter

A child looking at the flowers that have been arranged for the annual flower show at Lalbagh in Bangalore on Saturday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE, JAN. 17. The Department of Horticulture is planning to raise the entry fee to Lalbagh marginally from April. There is also a plan to make the garden a vehicle-free zone after 7 p.m.

The Director of Horticulture, G.K. Vasanth Kumar, told presspersons here today that the aim was to make Lalbagh pollution-free and protect its flora.

There were over 1,870 bio species there, he added. Dr. Kumar regretted that some people felt that Lalbagh was just for taking walks and the lake there, which was cleaned recently, a dumping place.

People had been saying that the garden should be opened at 4.30 a.m.

The objective of maintaining the historical place was to enrich its biodiversity and ecology besides allowing people to go on walks for their health and pleasure.

The department was planning to lay a jogging track and take up other development works.

It was planning to issue identity cards for senior citizens for an annual fee of Rs. 50.

There was also a suggestion to invite students to study the plants at the Lalbagh, he said

The department was getting an average annual revenue of Rs. 80 lakh through entry fee. The number of visitors during the off season was around 4,000 while at other times it had touched up to 15,000, Dr. Kumar said.

Flower show

The department and the Mysore Horticultural Society would hold the Republic Day flower and horticultural show from January 19 to 26 at the renovated Glass House and other selected units at Lalbagh.

The show would be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on all days except on the inaugural day. There would be an entry fee for visitors.

Dr. Kumar, who is also the Chairman of the Mysore Horticultural Society, said that over 545 varieties of items, including potted plants, cut flowers, Indian floral art, Bonsai etc., would be on display.

A number of horticultural and allied institutions such as the University of Agricultural Sciences, the Spices Board, the Coffee Board, the Coconut Development Board, Khoday Bio-tech, Namdhari Seeds Pvt. Ltd., and the Indo-American Hybrid Seeds would also participate in the event.

The Mayor, P.R. Ramesh, would inaugurate the show on Monday at 3 p.m. Anasuya Venkatachala, wife of the Lokayukta, Justice N. Venkatachala, would open the Indian Floral Art, vegetable carving, and Bonsai exhibition.

The Minister for Horticulture, V.S. Koujalgi, the Minister for Bangalore Development, Ramalinga Reddy, and the Minister for Social Welfare, A. Krishnappa, would participate in the function on the concluding day.

Prizes to the winners in the competitive section would be presented on the occasion. There was no entry fee for schoolchildren who visit the show on January 24 between 8 a.m. and noon, he added.

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