Pathankot, May 14
In a first of its kind in the region, the Pathankot Improvement Trust, which has already won accolades from residents for starting construction of an Rs 6-crore ultra modern auditorium, has established a state-of-the-art environmental park much to the relief of locals who had become used to inhaling polluted air.

The park, which boasts of modern facilities including speakers blaring out choicest music on the walkways, has come up on a 3.5 acre piece of land on the Jathedar Kesar Singh Marg, just a stone’s throw away from the IT’s auditorium.

Constructed at a cost of Rs 85 lakh and thrown open to the public recently, the IT has already started raking in the moolah as it has sold the cafeteria built on the premises of the park for an astronomical Rs 1.06 crore.

Anil Vasudeva, Chairman of the IT, claims that the number of people visiting the park is increasing with every passing day. “Nearly 500 people visit the serene surroundings of the recreational area everyday. The town was bereft of good parks and the only one that existed in the town-Shimla Pahari-has virtually ceased to exist. To compound matters, it is visited mostly by gamblers and anti-social elements. It has no chowkidar or safai sewak and instead of proving to be a boon for the locals, its nuisance value is increasing everyday.”

A section of the residents claim that the Municipal Committee (MC), under whose jurisdiction the Shimla Pahari falls, is not serious about its upkeep.

On the other hand the environmental park has rare species of flowers and trees and a private horticulturist has been engaged to take care of the plants and saplings. Vasudeva says that the good thing about the park is that its maintenance is not the responsibility of any government organisation, including the IT. On the contrary, a private party-Pioneer Agro Extracts Limited- has been entrusted upon with the responsibility of maintaining the garden.

The local MLA and state BJP President Ashwani Sharma, who played a vital role in setting up the park by getting clearances from various departments concerned in double quick time, says that more such projects are on the anvil. “Such parks encourage a positive attitude and there is a heightened sense of well being among visitors. Such gardens also act as stress busters apart from increasing energy levels.”

With the setting up of the park, residents are drawing comparisons between the working of the IT and the Municipal Committee. “The MC should emulate the working of the IT. Shimla Pahari, managed by the MC, has become an eyesore following which the focus of people who want to exercise has shifted to the Environmental Park,” said Ashwani Sharma.