Empress Garden Fights Government Land Proposal

The Agri-Horticulture Society of Western India is strongly opposing a government proposal to allocate roughly 2.5 acres of land adjacent to the Empress Botanical Garden for the construction of a new Cantonment Court building. Society officials have expressed concern that this move encroaches on one of Pune's last remaining green spaces. They highlight the garden's 134-year history and its significant collection of rare trees and diverse flora and fauna.

Government officials, however, assert that the court will be built on parcels of land owned by various government bodies, including the irrigation, public works, and forest departments, not directly on the Empress Garden's leased area. They state that Empress Garden is leased for approximately 37 acres, though they claim it currently occupies more space. The revenue department has confirmed the transfer of government land to the Bombay High Court for the court's construction, with a further allocation planned to accommodate eight courtrooms and necessary facilities.