NDMC chairperson B.P. Misra said, however, that they were going ahead with the event.

Stating the implications of such a move, Suhas Borkar, member of The Green Circle, has in a letter to Misra, said: ``Parks like Lodhi Gardens are not meant to be used for cultural events since any such event will necessarily disturb the natural peace and tranquility of the park. Further, you are setting a dangerous precedent... Soon the NDMC will be flooded with requests and subjected to pulls and pressures from various organisations, both governmental and non-governmental, who will be seeking permission to stage different types of cultural events in the garden''.

Borkar has also pointed out that though the NDMC had given permission for the filming of Earth, a movie by Deepa Mehta, the Delhi High Court, had specifically instructed that filming could be permitted only if it did not disturb the general atmosphere of the park. It had also stated that the parking lot would not be occupied by heavy vehicles and generators would not be used.

Completely taken-aback by the protest, Misra said the civic agency had invited morning walkers associations from Jor Bagh and Golf Links and they did not express any misgivings. ``We are a responsible agency and have taken permission from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). We shall ensure that nothing is desecrated or destroyed because we understand that it is our heritage. Anyways, we were not doing anything that they have asked us not to, except loudspeakers which we have to use''.