Chandigarh residents to take out march against Rock Garden wall demolition
Residents are set to hold a protest march against the demolition of a wall at Rock Garden, alleging that the move destroys the city’s heritage.
Labelled “Uniting for Our Chandigarh”, the march will be carried out on Friday at 5.30 pm at Rock Garden (High Court parking side), with participants being urged to wear green as a symbol of their commitment to preservation.
The call comes in the backdrop of the recent demolition at the city’s inconic landmark sparking widespread outrage, with Anuj Saini, son of Rock Garden creator Nek Chand, calling it a direct attack on his father’s artistic vision.
He further dismissed the administration’s claim that the demolished wall was never part of the Rock Garden, stating that his father had built the wall decades ago and had preserved waste material at the site for future restoration.
Saini believes that the irreplaceable material was discarded during the rushed overnight demolition, adding, “I am deeply saddened by the demolition of the wall, but what haunts me even more is the fear that the Engineering Department, during the demolition of wall, might have used JCB machines to clear out and discard that invaluable waste material.”
“The material wasn’t just debris—it was a treasure trove, an irreplaceable part of our country’s artistic and cultural heritage, meant to be preserved for future generations,” he asserted before questioning why the authorities acted in such secrecy.
The protest aims to bring attention to the increasing threats to Chandigarh’s architectural legacy and ecological balance, urging authorities to take responsible decisions regarding conservation.
Organisers emphasised that every voice matters and every step counts in safeguarding the city’s future. With growing concerns over unchecked urbanisation, activists, artists, they plan to unite residents in a movement to ensure that the city retains its artistic brilliance, historic charm and natural beauty for generations to come.
