Asphalt over art

The Punjab and Haryana High Court’s directive to demolish a section of the Rock Garden’s wall for road widening and parking expansion raises serious concerns about the balance between infrastructure and heritage conservation. The decision, executed by the UT Administration, not only erases a part of Nek Chand’s artistic legacy but also sets a troubling precedent for how India treats its cultural and forest heritage in the name of ‘development.’ For decades, the Rock Garden has stood as a testament to human ingenuity, turning waste into wonder. However, in what can only be described as an ironic injustice, a part of this artistic and cherished landmark is being razed to make space for asphalt and use by polluting vehicles. The claim that the demolished wall was not part of Nek Chand’s original structure does little to justify the destruction. A landmark’s significance is not merely in its blueprint but in the cultural and emotional connection it holds for the people.

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The rationale for this demolition is flawed on multiple levels. First, traffic congestion around the high court is largely due to poor management, not the presence of the Rock Garden. Sustainable alternatives, such as better public transport and shuttle services, have been overlooked. Plus, a systematic restructuring of case lists by the HC can reduce daily footfall at the court, addressing traffic concerns. Second, the administration’s promise of ‘relocating’ the wall and replanting trees does not compensate for the irreversible loss of an ecosystem. Chandigarh’s famed tree-lined landscape is already under siege; removing century-old trees for road widening is another nail in the coffin of its ecological balance.

The larger question remains: If courts, meant to be guardians of justice, do not defend public heritage and environmental integrity, who will? Chandigarh deserves sustainable urban planning, not thoughtless destruction disguised as progress.