BANGALORE: Walkers of Lalbagh may not want this food for thought, but they will have to digest this jibe by a smarting Horticulture Minister who had to cancel his plans of levying a fee on the walkers .
“Coffee and breakfast at the nearby brand MTR fits into the regular schedule of many of these walkers. It is strange that these people who do not mind spending Rs 100 or so every other morning, cry so much over an annual fee of Rs 200 meant for their own security and the conservation of the park.” Some musing that by Horticulture Minister Umesh Katti.
It seems neither the minister nor the horticulture department has got over the idea of a walking fee at Lalbagh, though they were forced to withdraw it after walkers at the park protested. Interacting with reporters on Monday, Katti said that the department was in the process of making identity cards mandatory for walkers as agreed upon with the Lalbagh walker’s association and said that it would apply to both Lalbagh and Cubbon Park.
Katti said that there would be no scope for misuse as the ID cards will be personalised swipe/scan cards. The walkers shall boot the cost of the ID card, the minister said.
