Beri Gate park victim of govt apathy

Neeraj Bagga

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 10

The densely populated walled city is woefully short of green parks while playground is a distant dream for children. Beri Gate park, situated opposite BK Dutt Gate area, is a picture of complete neglect. A resident, Harish Bhalla, said, “This is the only park for children residing between Lohgarh and Hakima gates, but there is no recreational equipment. Besides, it is not being maintained properly. Swings and slides are damaged. Overgrown plants speak volumes about the MC apathy.”

“Residents, too, should introspect as they can be seen playing cards in the park. Livestock, such as donkeys and ponies are tethered inside the park,” said another resident, Mohan Lal. Due to its broken boundary wall, it has also become a home to stray dogs and cattle. People are scared of entering the park for fear of being bitten by stray dogs, he added.

Residents rue that numerous representations to the authorities concerned to develop the park have fallen on deaf ears.

According to Mohan, there was a ray of hope in 2007 when a city-based NGO had embarked on a tree-plantation drive themed Go Green Go Clean. The drive gained momentum when the then Member of Parliament Navjot Singh Sidhu had joined it and spared Rs 1 crore for the purpose. “Now, Sidhu is the Local Bodies Minister. Being a former sportsman, he is expected to have a sympathetic approach towards the garden,” he added.

A youngster, Rajan, said in case the local government was unable to maintain the park, it should be developed into a playground.

MC Executive Engineer (Horticulture) Sandeep Singh said the half portion of the park was under the possession of the Public Works Department (PWD) for covering the drain that passes right from the backside of the park. “There is a plan to develop it into a proper green belt. Estimate regarding it will be prepared soon,” he added.

When contacted, MC Commissioner Gurloveleen Singh Sidhu said the focus of the current dispensation was to revive and maintain parks to channelise them as green lungs of the city.