Who will upkeep Ludhiana’s parks? Despite spending lakhs, green lungs remain in a miserable condition

Public parks located in various parts of the city are crying for attention of the authorities.

Barring a few in areas such as Sarabha Nagar, BRS Nagar, Ghumar Mandi, public parks across the city are in sheer neglect. Thanks to the Municipal Corporation, which even after spending lakhs of rupees on maintenance has failed to maintain these at the ground level.

Parks in posh areas such as Sarabha Nagar Block I, BRS Nagar, Ghumar Mandi near Ludhiana West MLA’s residence and Mall Road are in a good condition as these are being maintained by residential societies by keeping permanent caretakers or gardeners. A large number of public parks in other areas of the city are in a shambles. These have become a safe haven for anti-social elements. There are parks where encroachments can be seen but thanks to the lackadaisical approach of the authorities who fail to act against the menace.

A small ‘tikona’ park opposite the Khalsa College for Women has become a place for parking vehicles and carts of vendors selling eatables are stationed there during the daytime and till late night hours.

Pankaj Sharma, president, Association of Trade and Industrial Undertakings (ATIU), said there were around 50 public parks in Focal Points itself but all were in a pathetic state. “We are paying huge taxes to the Municipal Corporation but not even a single plant is planted in public parks, which is hardly maintained by the authorities concerned. We have approached the civic body several times to hand over the maintenance work of parks to the industries but it was not agreeable to them. We want these to be in good shape with benches and greenery but huge grass and weed are witnessed all over,” he said.

Anjali Sharma, who stays near Petrol Pump, Jalandhar Bypass, said there was a huge public park in the area but nobody could go and sit there due to the presence of stray cattle or dogs. Many times, drug addicts were also seen lazing around in the park. Unfortunately, the authorities had never visited these parks, which were never maintained, she said.

Another public park near the SBI treasury branch on Rani Jhansi Road is also in a pitiable condition. Wild grass and broken benches greet visitors in the park. It is learnt that a grant of about Rs 15 lakh was received for the park but it was still in a shambles with no gardener from the horticulture wing of the MC visiting the place. Women in the area have requested to make a small path in the park where they could walk, but no efforts had been made in this regard.

On the contrary, the park near the house of Ludhiana West MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi is well maintained, with proper boundary wall, neat and clean benches to sit, where the MLA takes morning meetings.

“If we can maintain one public park, why are we neglecting others? MLAs in their respective areas should visit parks and see what can be done to improve their condition. In Chandigarh, each and every park is well maintained, where residents walk and spend their mornings and evenings. But here, land worth crores of rupees are lying wasted in the name of public parks,” said Parminder Mehta, a BJP leader.

What officials say

MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal said there were around 900 big and small public parks in Ludhiana, many of which were being maintained by park management committees (PMCs).

“There are certain issues with PMCs, we are looking into the matter and are planning to outsource some agency to take care of neglected parks and the residents will get the results in one or two months. As far as plots in Focal Points are concerned, we are ready to hand over the same to industrialists but then they lay several conditions such as construction of boundary walls, etc. If they have to adopt these, they should do so under the CSR scheme and we have no objections”, he said.

Deputy Commissioner Jitender Jorwal said public parks coming under the Municipal Corporation’s jurisdiction were supposed to be maintained by the civic body and the administration had no role in it. He said he would, however, look into the condition of the parks coming under the jurisdiction of the district administration.

MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi claimed maximum public parks in the city were located in his area, Ludhiana West. There were about 650 public parks in the area and 70 per cent of these were well maintained. “For the past two days, my wife is personally visiting Rose Garden to get it cleaned. We are taking all measures but public too has to be responsible for cleanliness,” he said.