Karnataka to develop 65-acre tree park at Baiyappanahalli: Minister M B Patil
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Saturday said a 65-acre tree park will be developed at Baiyappanahalli at an estimated cost of Rs 37.75 crore, with the first phase expected to open to the public in March.
The park will be developed on part of the 105-acre site that previously belonged to the state-owned New Government Electrical Factory (NGEF), he added.
The large and medium industries minister visited the NGEF premises to inspect ongoing work, accompanied by senior officials from various departments.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister, in a statement, said the tree park is being developed in four phases—phase 1, 1A, 1B, and phase 2—at a total estimated cost of Rs 37.75 crore.
Works under phase 1A are expected to be completed within six months. The site houses around 8,500 trees of various species, with scientific names displayed, and Patil emphasised that not a single tree would be felled.
A scientific assessment will guide decisions regarding the existing eucalyptus trees.
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He added that Rs 11.50 crore required for phase 1 works has already been released.
The administrative office buildings and industrial sheds on the NGEF premises, assessed by scientists from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), are structurally sound and will be refurbished and repurposed.
"A multi-level parking facility capable of accommodating 5,000-7,000 vehicles will be constructed on an additional 4.5 acres of factory-owned land outside the compound," Patil said.
The minister added that two convention centres, each with a seating capacity of at least 15,000, will be developed in the existing electric motor sheds to host meetings, conferences, seminars, and other events.
"In addition, an incubation centre for startups, named ‘Innoverse’, will be established by the government-run KITS, providing a dedicated workspace for entrepreneurs. The IT-BT Department will also develop a Rs 100-crore ‘Technology Innovation Museum’ at the site," he said.
Patil said the tree park will also feature a world-class sculpture park and an NGEF museum. Clarifying that no shopping mall would be constructed on the premises, he added that a well-equipped amphitheatre will host a variety of activities.
He noted that the project would greatly benefit residents of East Bengaluru and could emerge as a green space surpassing Cubbon Park and Lalbagh.
"Only a small portion of land required for the entrance gate falls under Namma Metro’s jurisdiction, and discussions are underway to secure it," he said.
"I have initiated a Vrikshathon (tree plantation drive) in my hometown of Vijayapura, intending to plant 10 crore saplings. Not a single tree at the NGEF site will be cut; they will be carefully preserved. My goal is to develop this into an international destination," Patil added.
Listing key attractions, he said, phase 1 will include an entrance plaza, elevated walkways, cycling tracks, water cascades, fountains, a food court, children’s play area, pet-friendly zones, toilets, and other infrastructure.
Phase 1B, costing Rs 26.23 crore, will include additional elevated walkways, an observation tower, renovation of the administrative block, and an open amphitheatre.
Under phase 2, the factory sheds will be redeveloped into a sports hub, arts and culture centre, community hall, and food court through a public-private partnership, the minister added.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
