Chandigarh, March 10— Despite public outcry, the Chandigarh administration completed the demolition of a wall outside Rock Garden on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday as part of a road widening and parking project.
The demolition, which began on February 22, had been moving slowly, but the wall’s complete removal by Sunday morning caught residents off guard. The UT administration maintains that the wall was originally built to enclose an adjacent forested area and was not part of Nek Chand’s original design. A new structure replicating the demolished wall will be constructed to maintain Rock Garden’s aesthetic, officials told the Punjab and Haryana High Court on March 7.
Protests erupted on February 23, with a section of residents accusing authorities of destroying the city’s heritage. The controversy has since escalated, with groups such as “Saving Chandigarh” challenging the administration’s actions.
“There are major discrepancies between the UT environment department’s approved drawings and the actual work being done,” said RK Garg, a city-based social activist. “The road straightening project is using far more land than initially designated, and no environmental impact assessment has been conducted.”
The group has demanded an on-site survey by the forest department to assess tree loss and called for accountability from the chief architect and chief engineer, alleging violations of Chandigarh’s Master Plan.
Read More: Procedural Lapses Found In Rock Garden Wall Demolition
