Proposed Club, Arcade: Team of Citizens meet CEO Cantt Board
THE DELEGATION REQUESTED FOR NOT CUTTING ANY TREE AS THE AREA AROUND THE SITE IS A FORESTED GREEN BELT WHICH SERVES AS LUCKNOW’S LUNGS.
LUCKNOW: A team from Citizens for Lucknow and Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) met Amit Kumar Mishra, chief executive officer, Cantonment Board to discuss the heritage and environmental concerns arising out of a club and a shopping arcade proposed to be constructed adjacent to Dilkusha Garden and on army land on sides of Sultanpur Road, respectively.
Team led by Aditya Chakravarti, Jayant Krishna and Jyotsna Kaur Habibullah requested the Cantonment Board authorities to ensure that the upcoming club does not violate The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act and there is construction within 100 metres of the centrally protected Dilkusha Palace’s boundary.
The delegation requested for not cutting any tree as the area around the site is a forested green belt which serves as Lucknow’s lungs. Given that Lucknow is amongst the most polluted cities in India only marginally behind Delhi, its ecological balance must not be compromised with. In fact, the delegation requested to plant at least 250 new trees around the new club.
The delegation members appealed for a review of the shopping arcade plan. The delegation members said that the club must account for water conservation along with provision for rainwater harvesting.
The citizens appealed for ecofriendly architecture of the upcoming club.
The structures must blend with nature instead of being urban eyesores. It must not become yet another structure with overuse of concrete, stone and glass. The club must minimise carbon footprint and carbon neutrality must be ensured with net zero carbon dioxide emissions.
The team offered architectural help to Cantonment Board in design of these structures.
CEO Cantonment Board Amit Mishra said, “I have assured the delegation that we will consider their suggestions proposal if they are fruitful for residents.”