Encroachments on park land go on unabated

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 21

Most owners of the houses situated along parks have encroached upon the park land in a fully or partially manner in the city. Residents have installed boundary grills on the rear side of their houses for direct access to the parks.

At one of the parks situated near a TV tower in Model Town, Phase I, a resident has built a separate park and installed the gate towards the park. The boundary of the house has been fenced separately with a motive to extend the area.

The Municipal Corporation is responsible for the maintenance of the public parks, gardens and recreation grounds. Despite encroachments, officials of the MCB are still in a slumber.

Some of the parks in the city have been turned into parking lots by the residents.

The question is why the MCB authorities are silent on encroachments that are taking place in the parks. The Building Branch of the MCB has the responsibility to keep a vigil on any illegal constructions in the city. Unfortunately, it failed to do so.

Residents say that the parks are meant for recreational activities and the MCB should keep a close vigil on the encroachers and strict action should be initiated against them.

Niranjan Singh, a city resident, said, “Encroachments on the park have increased as the MCB has turned a blind eye towards the issue. There is no fear of law among the encroachers due to the casual approach of the MC towards the issue. The MCB should tighten the noose around the violators so that no one can dare to encroach upon the public land.”

Another resident Gurdev Singh said, “We have opened our gate toward the park as it is easy for us to directly enter the park. Everyone has done this and we have never been questioned by anyone.”