On the face of it, M.N.Krishna Rao Park on Kanakapura Road, Basavanagudi, seems like any other park...with its beautifully lined Gulmohar in bloom which evoke rich redolent memories for old time Bangaloreans. But this park is 'haunted' indeed. Today, if anyone cares to walk up to this park, it is akin to walking right into the middle of a graveyard.
One side of the park has morphed into a dump yard of trees...uprooted, chopped and mutilated by various urban development activities across the city. The contrast of the Gulmohar in bloom, spreading its reddish colour up in the air, and on its base, these murdered trees in heaps...figuratively speaking, looks nothing less of a funeral pyre, as they lay there, smoldering smokelessly.
The city famously known for its agreeable climate is slowly turning into a hot furnace, as the mercury hit the all time high this summer. Sadly, completely oblivious lies the reality of casual indifference, as life goes on in its usual stride on the B.P.Wadia road and Kanakapura road, which surrounds this park.
Parked in history: There is ample history to this park, named after Sir M.N.Krishna Rao, the erstwhile acting Dewan of Mysore, who was honoured with Knighthood in 1934 for his outstanding contribution.
This was also the place frequented by many writers and scientists, whose creativity was inspired by their morning walks in this beautiful Gulmohar park. It is said that noted litterateur and journalist D.V Gundappa and popular Kannada writer and Jnanpith award winner, Maasthi Venkatesa Iyengar were regulars in this park.
It is open for all: In the past one and a half years, this one side of park had been gradually converted into a dump yard of trees. Today one can see people who are in want of fire wood, stealthily walk into this area and bundle up firewood for use.
Gomathi, a flower seller, who sits on the footpath right before this park said, "There is no security and nobody will ask if anyone wants to come here and take away wood for their personal use. Some people also make a sale of this wood, but we do not know who these people are?
She added, "This dumping of cut trees started about one and a half year ago. In no time, hundreds of trees were dumped. It is the BBMP trucks which brings the trees here."
Apathy, nothing official about it: Gangambika, the councillor of Ward No:153 under whose jurisdiction this park falls, confirmed that it is the forest department of BBMP, which is dumping the cut trees from all over the city in this park.
She added, "I guess the BBMP had announced a tender to sell off these trees, recently. It is shameful but what had actually happened during the last regime was that for the park maintenance, only BJP councillors received fund allocation. Unfortunately, if the park falls under the jurisdiction of a councillor who did not belong to the ruling party, it can be easily spotted from the sad state of affairs at the parks."