LAND IN TROUBLE: A portion of the Kadri Park in Mangalore which is to be handed over to MRPL-ONGC. Citizen groups have whipped up a campaign to save the park. — PHOTO: R. ESWARRAJ

MANGALORE: The `Save Kadri Park' campaign launched by 40 citizens' and environmental groups in the city has picked up momentum, with the activists threatening to resort to legal action if the Government does not heed them.

Kadri Park, which is one of the largest remaining lung spaces in Mangalore, is under threat.

The district administration has handed over 4.9 acres of the total 15.38 acres to MRPL-ONGC (Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd.-Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) for constructing a petroleum outlet there. The land lies to the north of the park and was used earlier for holding motocross events. The administration handed over the land to MRPL-ONGC saying that the Revenue Department had reclaimed it from the Horticulture Department on the grounds that the latter had not carried out the development work promised.

The district administration also argued that since the ONGC was a public sector organisation, it would be all right technically to hand over the land.

The organisers of the `Save Kadri Park' campaign say that the Karnataka State Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975 prohibits the transfer of parkland for other activities.

Spokesperson for the campaign groups Vidya Dinakar said that lung space, open spaces and parks were shrinking in Mangalore and this was not good news for a city that was experiencing rapid growth. In fact, this meant that not only should the city's existing open spaces be left alone but additional parks and open spaces should be developed as well, she said.

Resentment

The group pointed out that the Horticulture Department had conveyed its resentment on the issue in a letter to the Deputy Commissioner on June 28, 2006. Social activist Commodore Pereira said the department had asked the Deputy Commissioner to revoke the order but there had been no response.

K.R. Shetty, president of the Kadri Park View Apartment Owners' Cooperative Society, who had first reported the construction activity in the park area, said the NRI Forum under the leadership of B.R. Shetty had plans to develop the northern side of Kadri Park and NRIs had said they would generate funds for this.

The Horticulture Department, meanwhile, has said it lacked funds for improving the park, but this was no reason for the Government to take the project away.

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