Hubballi: Residents of Lingaraj Nagar in Hubballi opposed the proposed plan to install air quality monitoring stations at the 20ftx20ft plot, which was carried out by Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) promised to creation of small parks.
Given the dimensions of the plot, residents believe that, if the station is built on the site, the park they maintain will be victims.
Lingaraj Nagar Resident R Rajendran Iyer, a marketing professional, shows that they have built compounds around the plot where flowers and garden trees are now blooming.
“If HDMC decides to use the fourth site for the station, nothing else is only two large Neem trees, which occupy almost a third of the site, will be left from the park.
This is not HDMC’s first choice to accommodate the station.
Other locality residents oppose having stations in the park there , Not to mention political pressure, “said Iyer to Ti.
Dr.
Tejaswini Patil, also a resident of Lingaraj Nagar, tried to remind HDMC that these norms were clearly determined that no more than 5% of the plot could be allocated for other purposes.
“That’s us, residents who planted and maintain trees in the park.
But some of them have been accessed.
It’s unfair and unfair,” he said.
Fellow Lingaraj Nagar Resident Santosh Shali said that HDMC and the state pollution control agency Karnataka (KSPCB) have met information about the station.
“We don’t install what device being installed.
We also don’t know if it will be safe.
They come with an earthmoving machine and start digging the park,” he is Ruja.
Principal Retired Prof.
Patil CD points to an abundant open space under the HDMC scope that can be used for air quality monitoring stations housing.
“Instead, they are trying to destroy the park.
Officials must reconsider their decisions.
We have repeatedly asked them to shift the station elsewhere, but our request has been not recognized,” said Prof.
Patil.
Commissioner HDMC Suresh Itnal said that officials had tried to convince occupants.
“But they don’t listen to us.
They suggest other locations, but this place is surrounded by trees, which makes it not suitable to accommodate air quality monitoring stations, because it will produce inaccurate reading.
The station is being installed under the ‘clean water’ initiative on center.
However, we will hold a public consultation meeting, “said itnal.
KSPCB senior environmental staff, Shobha Pol, however, said that the purpose behind installing the station was to get a clear idea of air quality.
“The station will provide data on air content, which will also be proven to be beneficial for the population.
We can convince occupants that it will not be a source of interference.
HDMC lends us this space at the commandment of the deputy commissioner of Dharwad,” he said.
Residents upset by losing the park for air quality monitoring stations
