24022025-CT-01.qxd 2/24/2025 12:13 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune » ROSE FEST CONCLUDES ON MUSICAL NOTE INSIDE » REAL ESTATE EXPO ENDS WITH GOOD RESPONSE INSIDE MONDAY | 24 FEBRUARY 2025 | CHANDIGARH Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 23 As residents, social activists and heritage conservationists protested the demolition of a wall of the Rock Garden at the world-famous tourist spot, the UT Administration clarified that road-widening work was being carried out in compliance with the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The Administration has stated that the work was aimed at decongesting the parking areas around the High Court. It also claimed the wall was not part of the Rock Garden designed by Nek Chand, but was built to enclose the adjacent forested land. The High Court had mandated that the UT Administration should address the traffic bottlenecks caused by the jutting out corner of the Rock Garden near the multi-level parking. This is affecting the traffic flow in the area, especially near the High Court. In response, the Administration prepared a roadwidening project aimed at decongesting the parking area around the High Court. “This involves shifting a compound wall near the Rock Garden in Phase III, which, while being part of the surrounding area, is not integral to the Rock Garden itself. The wall was originally continued on page 3 Says it’s not part of original structure designed by Nek Chand A wall of the Rock Garden, Phase II, being demolished to widen a road leading to the High Court. TRIBUNE PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI ‘Razing wall not a solution, but beginning of the end’ Sheetal Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 23 Residents staged a protest at the Rock Garden against the UT Administration’s move to dismantle a wall of the worldfamous tourist spot. A former Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court, Justice SS Sodhi, who took part in the protest, condemned the demolition. “Razing the Rock Garden’s wall is not a solution but the beginning of an end. The city needs sustainable traffic solutions — shuttle services, improved public transport and multilevel parking lots — rather than harming its trees and heritage. Compared to the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court, Chandigarh’s parking situation is better. Managing the cause list more efficiently can reduce unnecessary crowding. On an average, around 1,000 cases are listed in the High Court each day and only around 100 are actually heard. A large number of people arrive at the court just to see their case in the cause list, which should be properly adjusted.” The demolition comes in the birth centenary year of Nek Chand, making it even more painful for residents. Eminent architect and urbanist Noor Dasmesh Singh remarked, “Nek Chand’s contribution to Chandigarh c m y b must be reiterated and preserved. In 1989, a symbolic ‘Chipko movement’ tried to resist a similar demolition. Yet, the administration has once again chosen destruction over preservation. The loss of old trees in this process is unpardonable. Worse, this operation seems to have been conducted clandestinely.” Yojna Rawat, general secretary of the MN Sharma Architectural Society, emphasised continued on page 2 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 26°C | MIN 12°C YESTERDAY MAX 25.4°C | MIN 11.4°C SUNSET MONDAY 6.18 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6.53 AM » CELEBRATIONS ERUPT AS INDIA WIN INSIDE /THETRIBUNECHD Rock Garden wall being dismantled in compliance with HC orders: UT FORECAST FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE