Wall Being Razed Not Integral Part Of Rock Garden: UT To HC

Admn says it will build a new wall, similar to the original structure, a move aimed at balancing improved traffic management with garden's preservation

- HT Correspondent

CHANDIGARH: Amid the growing public outcry over the demolition of a wall at the iconic Rock Garden for a road widening and parking project, the Chandigarh administration on Friday told the Punjab and Haryana high court that the wall was not an integral part of the historical site.

The counsels for Chandigarh administration told the high court bench of chief justice Sheel Nagu and justice Sumeet Goel that the wall was built by Nek Chand, the creator of Rock Garden.

However, it is being relocated to accommodate the widened road and space for parking of more vehicles. A new structure, replicating the original design, will be built to maintain Rock Garden's aesthetic integrity. The move is aimed at balancing improved traffic management with the preservation of Rock Garden's cultural and historical significance, the court was informed.

The information was given during resumed hearing of a 2023 public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Vinod Dhaterwal, an office-bearer of the high court employees' association, demanding infrastructure development of the HC complex in the wake of increasing traffic congestion, space crunch and implementation of a holistic development plan.