Slow pace of development of Gol Bagh irks residents

Neeraj Bagga

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 15

The slow pace of development of Gole Bagh has left the residents fuming. Apparatus for recreation activities for children have been installed but the civil work is yet to be completed.

After a long gap, the Municipal Corporation (MC) took up the project for the facelift of the historic Gol Bagh that has been lying in a shambles for long.

A grant of Rs 5 crore was diverted to the historic Bagh out of the Union Government’s HRIDAY project. Tonnes of garbage was removed from the backside of the Bagh, which was no longer used by visitors and recreation apparatus for children were installed. Landscaping is yet to be taken care of as the soil here is still loose. A visitor, Brij Mohan Mehra, said mild shower is enough to make the ground slushy and create puddles.

The plan to set up a jogging track is also underway.

The concrete boundary wall of the park has been replaced with iron grills at some places and interior walls have already been re-plastered. Children park, which is lying vacant after its swings and other recreational facilities got damaged long back, is slowly being replaced with an open gym as equipment for exercise is being installed.

Gol Bagh is among the few green lungs survived close to the densely populated walled city. It has been reduced to a resting place of aged, beggars, urchins and anti-social elements. In the absence of any facility, it attracted a meagre number of visitors.

In this scenario, families and children prefer to visit Ram Bagh and Amrit Anand park.

Officials of the civic body associated with the project said beautification and civil work of the park have been undergoing for the past six months. They said it was likely to take some more time. Grass will be grown for landscaping in the forthcoming rainy season.