Open Letter to CM: Save Lalbagh from the Tunnel Project

Respected Chief Minister,

We write with deep concern over the proposal to construct a tunnel road beneath Lalbagh Botanical Garden — Bengaluru’s green heart and a symbol of our shared heritage.

As the descendants of G.H. Krumbiegel, H.C. Javaraya, and Dr. M.H. Marigowda — who each, in their own unique way, helped shape Lalbagh, Cubbon Park, and much of our city’s botanical legacy — we feel a profound responsibility to speak out.

Our ancestors’ vision, shared with the city’s early founders, was of a Bengaluru where nature and progress coexist, not collide.

The idea of tunnelling through Lalbagh Rock, one of the oldest geological formations on Earth, is deeply troubling. This ancient granite, estimated to be over three billion years old, is a monument of time itself — a silent witness to our planet’s earliest history. To disturb it for a traffic experiment would be an irreversible act of harm — both ecological and cultural.

Cities across the world fiercely protect their heritage landscapes. London would never allow Kew Gardens to be dug through for a road; New York would never carve a tunnel under Central Park. Should Bengaluru — once hailed as India’s Garden City — now destroy the very gardens that gave it that name?

We must seek smarter, sustainable solutions for urban mobility that respect history, biodiversity, and public sentiment. Lalbagh is not just a patch of land — it is Bengaluru’s soul, a living museum of flora and a legacy we hold in trust for generations yet to come.

We therefore urge your government to withdraw any plans that endanger Lalbagh and to reaffirm Karnataka’s commitment to heritage and environmental preservation. True progress lies in protecting what makes our city unique — not erasing it.

Let Lalbagh stand — untouched, undisturbed, and forever green. 🌿

Signed,

-Alyia Krumbiegel great granddaughter of GH Krumbiegel .

-Harish Padmanabha grandson of Rao Bahadur H.C.Javaraya LAg, FLS, FRHS,

-Chandra Shaker Grandson of Dr Marigowda

Rejection of Noise Pollution licenses for high decibel events near Cubbon Park

Based on today's newspaper publlc notices 29 Oct 25 , Heritage Beku writes to Police Commissioner :

29 Oct 2025

The Commissioner of Police

Bangalore City Police

Infantry Road

Bengaluru 560001

Dear Sir,

Subject: FIRM DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL AND REJECTION OF NOISE POLLUTION LICENSES FOR HIGH-DECIBEL EVENTS NEAR CUBBON PARK – Upholding Supreme Court Mandates and Protecting Biodiversity.

We write to you today on behalf of the citizens of Bangalore, with deep concern and a clear, urgent request , regarding the ongoing and proposed issuance of licenses for high-decibel sound events in the immediate vicinity of Cubbon Park, the city's invaluable "People's Park" and a precious green lung.

We understand that the police has published a notice , and license applications have been filed by prominent entities, including F& F Hospitality and Marriot Executive Apartments, seeking permission to generate sound levels that consistently and drastically exceed the legally mandated decibel limits.

Breach of Law and Constitutional Mandate

The very consideration and public notice of such applications are fundamentally contradictory to the established legal framework.

1. Violation of Supreme Court Orders: The Honourable Supreme Court of India, in its landmark ruling on noise pollution (In Re: Noise Pollution), unequivocally established the Right to Peace, Sleep, and Silence as an intrinsic part of the Fundamental Right to Life (Article 21). Furthermore, the allowance of noise beyond permissible limits is a direct affront to the specific commitment made by the then-Police Commissioner, Mr. Praveen Sood, who submitted an affidavit confirming adherence to the noise pollution standards set out by the Supreme Court. Allowing such licenses is not only detrimental to public health and the environment but also constitutes an explicit act that goes against the Supreme Court's binding directions.(see enclosed)

2. Silence Zone Mandate: Cubbon Park falls squarely under the definition of a "Silence Zone," where the prescribed ambient noise limit is strictly capped at 50 dB(A) during the day and 40 dB(A) at night (as per CPCB Noise Pollution Rules, 2000). The repeated and widely reported raucous noise from previous and proposed events easily surpasses these standards, treating a critical ecological space with impunity.

Impact on Biodiversity and Public Health

The indiscriminate allowance of loud, inappropriate sound is causing irretrievable damage to the park's delicate ecosystem:

• Flora and Fauna: The delicate biodiversity of Cubbon Park—including essential bird species, small mammals, and insects—is highly sensitive to acoustic disturbance. Excessive noise disrupts their communication, foraging, breeding cycles, and anti-predator behaviour, leading to habitat displacement and a decline in species richness.

• Public Nuisance: The highly loud noise and inappropriate timings have led to huge issues and sustained protest from Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) On Lavelle Road, Kasturba Road and Vittal Mallya Road,  and affected parties nearby. It is deeply concerning that repeated requests from these citizen bodies have historically not been heeded, leading to a perception that the cloud and connections of major hospitality chains allow noise to be permitted with impunity, disregarding the well-being of the local community.

National and International Precedents for Protection

This is not an isolated concern. Across the country and the world, environmental and judicial authorities have recognized the non-negotiable need to protect sensitive zones from acoustic pollution.

• In India, studies in protected areas like Eravikulam National Park, Kerala, and the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary have documented noise levels exceeding 80 dB(A) due to anthropogenic activities, leading to adverse ecological impacts. This evidence reaffirms the direct conflict between high noise levels and the health of our green spaces. Legal frameworks like the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, are increasingly being cited to regulate activities, including tourism noise, that disturb protected area wildlife.

• Internationally, developed nations like the UK have had explicit legislation, such as the Noise Abatement Act, 1960, to prohibit loudspeaker usage during late hours, specifically to ensure peace. Furthermore, global jurisprudence, including the European Court of Human Rights, affirms that environmental protection—including the control of noise pollution—is inextricably linked to the fundamental human rights to health and life.

Our Earnest Request

As a caring city, focused on the environment, public health, and our children’s future, we honestly request, if not demand, that the Police Department immediately adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards noise pollution for sale. We request the immediate rejection of the current license applications by F& F Hospitality and Marriot Executive Apartments and a commitment that no future application for loud sound events will be considered in the vicinity of Cubbon Park.

We cannot, and must not, allow the explicit risk to people, flora, and fauna in a delicate biodiversity hotspot for a few hours of irresponsible pleasure by hotel guests or visitors. We urge you to uphold the rule of law and the spirit of the Supreme Court's mandate by strictly enforcing Silence Zone regulations.

We look forward to your firm action in protecting our People's Park.

Yours sincerely,

For Heritage Beku

Priya Chetty-Rajagopal

Public Notice

Acknowledged letter to Police Commissioners Office..

Article in Bangalore Mirror on this subject :

https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/bengalurus-elite-enclaves-boil-over-rooftop-music-madness/articleshow/124961800.cms

The Stone That Moved Mountains: How Bangalore's #FaujiKids Fought for Their Fathers' Honour

This isn't just the story of a memorial. This is a saga of filial devotion, citizen grit, and a battle against apathy waged by the children of India's bravest – the #FaujiKids. It's the story of the National Military Memorial (NMM) in Bangalore, a dream conceived in honour, stalled in indifference, and resurrected through sheer, relentless love #InMyFathersName.

The Promise and the Abyss (2009 - 2017):

On a February day in 2009, hope soared. The Governor and the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for India's first National Military Memorial. It was envisioned as a sacred space: a towering Veeragallu (Hero Stone) symbolizing sacrifice, fluttering military flags, an eternal flame, and a museum echoing with valour. But after this, silence descended. For 12 long years, the project  languished. Promises evaporated into the Bangalore air. The bureaucratic maze thickened. Funds stalled. The heart of the memorial – a majestic 180-tonne Veeragallu – lay forgotten, 42 kms away in Devanahalli, incomplete, unpaid for, a colossal symbol of neglect. While the nation slept peacefully, guarded by the very soldiers this memorial sought to honour, their symbol of remembrance was gathering dust. Tragically, as Bangalore stalled, New Delhi swiftly planned, tendered, and completed its National War Memorial by 2019, stealing the title of "first" – a profound injustice to us who had first conceived the project.

The Awakening: #FaujiKids Answer the Call:

 Enough was enough. In 2018, a band of military brats, led by civic evangelist  Priya Chetty-Rajagopal (herself a fauji kid), refused to let their fathers' and the nation's martyrs be dishonoured any longer. They weren't powerful politicians or high-ranking officials. They were citizens. Services sons and daughters who understood the price of the olive green and the tricolour, and the honour due therein. They rallied under the banner #NMM Citizens for NMM. Alongside Priya stood a coalition of the passionate: style maestro Prasad Bidappa, the revered Justice Santosh Hegde, journalist & writer Sheila Kumar, Surabhi Tomar , policy specialist, Anand Kripalu former CEO Diageo, strategist Akshay Rajagopal, activist Rubi Chakravarti, and countless other citizens whose hearts beat for the cause.

The Relentless Campaign: Grit, Strategy, and Tears:

What followed was nothing short of a citizen-led military operation. Their mission: Move the immovable. Achieve in months what the state couldn't in a decade. Their weapons?

1.  Unflinching Determination: Sleepless nights became the norm. Endless meetings with the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), the Home Department, and officials like Mr. Rakesh Singh and Mr. Vinay Sugur were marked by polite persistence, sharp strategy, and sometimes, desperate pleading.

2.  Strategic Pressure: They became experts in navigating red tape, securing permissions, negotiating directly with the Veeragallu sculptor, and vetting transportation vendors capable of moving the  180-tonne behemoth. Every hurdle was met with a solution.

3.  The Power of Voice: A relentless #BringTheVeeragallu campaign exploded. Social media (#NMMBangalore) became a war drum. Traditional media was harnessed brilliantly. Articles were written, interviews were given (like Priya's powerful piece on SheThePeople), TV channels were engaged. They made the memorial's stalled state a national shame and the Veeragallu's journey a public obsession.

4.  Groundswell of Support: Events were organized, networks were leveraged, and the public was awakened. They reminded Bangalore, and India, of the debt owed to its soldiers. The hashtag #InMyFathersName resonated deeply, framing the fight as a sacred duty.

The Triumphant Roll: Tears of Relief:

After a year and four days of superhuman effort – exactly what took the government 12 years – the impossible happened. In June 2019, under the watchful, tear-filled eyes of the #FaujiKids and their allies, a massive transporter, bearing the colossal Veeragallu like a modern-day chariot of honour, slowly, majestically, rolled onto the NMM grounds.  The #FaujiKids wept. Tears not of sorrow, but of overwhelming relief, pride, and vindication. The symbol of their fathers' ultimate sacrifice was finally home. Six more months of meticulous effort saw the stone safely installed, standing sentinel beside the towering national flag and the granite walls etched with the names of over 33,000 martyrs.

The Bittersweet Victory and Unfinished Duty:

The #FaujiKids had moved a mountain, literally and figuratively. They had restored a measure of honour through sheer citizen power. Yet, the battle cry isn't fully silenced. The memorial remains technically incomplete: the three service flags wait to fly, the Ashoka Chakra yearns to be placed, the eternal flame remains unlit, and the underground military museum – a crucial repository of memory – lies neglected, "left to rot." The contrast with Delhi's swift completion remains a stinging question mark over political will.

Why Does This Story Matter?

The saga of Bangalore's NMM is more than civic activism. It's a testament to:

   *The Power of Love and Duty:** #FaujiKids fought not for glory, but for the honour of their fathers and all who serve.

   *Citizen Heroism:** Ordinary people, armed with passion and persistence, can move governments and mountains.

   *The Cost of Indifference:** 12 years of delay is 12 years of dishonour to those who gave everything. As Priya and the team poignantly ask: "Why call on the spirits of the martyrs... and then keep them waiting for 15 years? That is not honour; that is dishonour."

   *Unfinished Business:** The fight isn't over until the last flag flies, the Museum is spruced up and the eternal flame burns bright for the NMM's heroes.