Bengaluru: Yet another heritage building is about to bite the dust in the city thanks to the government’s shortsightedness. The Government Veterinary Hospital located opposite the Cantonment Station on Queen’s Road is not only a heritage building, but also home to about 2.5 kms of greenery that harbours trees which are around a 120 –years- old.
But despite the many factors that are crying out to preserve it and public pleas, the building is to be demolished along with the greenery and replaced by a super- specialty veterinary hospital at a cost of Rs 16.5 crore. The colonial styled barracks have already been destroyed and bulldozers were seen at work in the grounds Wednesday afternoon.
“The grounds are home to nearly three acres of greenery in the heart of Bengaluru. The stretch has 92 trees and five of the biggest ones are to go. One of them is so thick it needs nine people to go around to cover its trunk. Our protests have been branded anti- development, but can’t development be inclusive? Why can’t the new building be incorporated around the trees?” demanded Ms Priya Chetty Rajgopal, a core member of Citizens for Bengaluru, who is strongly protesting the move along with other concerned Bengalureans.
With the Veterinary College in Hebbal, complete with a lab and amenities for specialty treatment, being within 5 kms of the new structure, it is unnecessary to have such a hospital here, she argues. “Why can’t the hospital in Hebbal be improved if the authorities feel the need for a super-speciality veterinary facility. We have filed RTIs repeatedly but there is absolutely no response,” Ms. Chetty regretted.
Incidentally, the building that belongs to the BBMP, also houses one of the two Animal Birth Control Centres in the city. But on Wednesday the Sarvodaya ABC Centre was closed down and given three days to move. “We were given no written notice. And today they want to relocate us. The space, according to the order issued in 2007, is to be used for an ABC. Although we are told that we will be brought back in seven months, there is nothing in writing,” said Mr Vinay Moray who runs the centre
Warning that moving the ABC centres could spell disaster for the city, Professor Arun Prasad, a concerned citizen, who is a part of the protest. says when Bengaluru’s street dog population is exploding, it cannot afford to be so lackadaisical in its approach.
