Bengaluru, 18 Jan

The Cubbon Park Walkers’ Association (CPWA) expressed its strong opposition to the proposed construction of a skating rink inside Cubbon Park’s Bal Bhavan. In a statement on Sunday, the Association demanded that the State government halt any plans involving a new permanent structure or the concretisation of the park.

The State government had earlier proposed to build a skating rink at the cost of Rs 1.5 crore across approximately half an acre of land in Cubbon Park. The construction was set to begin by the end of January and complete by May or June, making it the first State government owned skating park.

However, the Cubbon Park Walkers’ Association (CPWA) noted that there was a high-quality skating rink just across Cubbon Park in Kanteerava Stadium.

The Association stated that the rink would further the concretisation of one of Bengaluru’s crucial green lungs, causing “significant environmental harm”.

“Every square metre of concrete laid is a square metre of earth lost to the city's ecosystem,” the CPWA stated. It noted that Cubbon Park was a vital carbon sink and a sanctuary for local flora and fauna.

The walkers demanded that the State government withdraw the proposal for the skating rink at Bal Bhavan, commit to a total ban on new concrete structures within the park and recognise and protect Cubbon Park as a sensitive ecological zone.

"Our stance is clear: Cubbon Park must be protected in its natural state," said S Umesh, President of the Cubbon Park Walkers’ Association. "We cannot allow the park to be treated as a vacant plot for construction. We must prioritise the preservation of our environment over redundant sporting infrastructure that already exists nearby."