City landmarks demolished
The Chittoor Municipal Corporation proposed to construct a Statue Island near I town police station building with a central idea of keeping all the statues of national leaders at one spot. Preliminary work was commenced in November 2016. To make way for the Statue Island, the civic authorities have demolished the 60-year-old Red Cross Building and 80-year-old Gandhi Statue as against the interests
Chittoor: The Chittoor Municipal Corporation proposed to construct a Statue Island near I town police station building with a central idea of keeping all the statues of national leaders at one spot. Preliminary work was commenced in November 2016. To make way for the Statue Island, the civic authorities have demolished the 60-year-old Red Cross Building and 80-year-old Gandhi Statue as against the interests of the public.
Highlights:
- But, the civic body kept island construction proposal pending for the last six months
- City residents, opposition question why to demolish when they kept proposal pending
Meanwhile, a notice was given to District Superintendent of Police (SP) for demolishing I town police station. The Statue Island was supposed to get final shape by January 26, 2017. But, municipal council had reportedly kept the proposal of constructing the Statue Island in abeyance due to political and official pressures.
Chittoor TDP MLA D A Satyaprabha has decided to install the new Gandhi Statue in the island besides an entertainment park around the Gandhi Circle with her own funds as civic body kept the proposal in pending.
The then Forest Minister Bojjala Gopalakrishna Reddy had inaugurated the new Gandhi Statue on January 26, 2017. It was earlier proposed to complete the construction of Statue Island and the beautification of Gandhi Circle by January 26 this year. The MLA declared openly that the entire process of constructing the Statue Island and the beautification of Gandhi Circle will be completed by January end. The ground reality is that the civic body had put off the works relating to Statue Island for the last six months. The Gandhi Circle is now turned into a car parking place.
Speaking to The Hans India here on Thursday, Municipal Commissioner G Balasubramanayam attributed technical reasons for delay in construction of Statue Island. He said the MLA has come forward to beautify the Gandhi Circle with her own funds. “We have issued a notice to district police to vacate I town police station building for construction of the Statue Island. But, we have to show alternative accommodation for shifting I town police station,” he added.
Hence, it is clear that the civic officials have demolished the Red Cross Society building and the Gandhi Statue without proper planning. The opposition parties slammed the civic body and MLA for demolishing landmark Red Cross Society building and the Gandhi Statue without proper plan.
