Rose Garden a picture of neglect

Ravi Chandel

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 10

Despite the Municipal Corporation’s tall claims to provide a clean and green environment in the city, the Rose Garden, a major tourist destination, reflects a picture of neglect.

Given the infrastructure it seems that the garden has not been maintained by the MC for the past few months. Tiles of the fountain pond are on the verge of failing off at many points. The glass of a lamp post is broken and even the lights are not functioning properly.

Moreover, some floodlights are missing from their respective caged platforms. A bridge inside the park is dotted with cracks with broken benches atop it.

The Appu Ghar, which is specially meant for children, is also in a deplorable condition. A number of swings for children are in bad shape and are non-functional. Moreover, the electric swings which were working, their electric power house and wires not been covered, which is posing a danger to children.

Besides, the area around the Appu Ghar is surrounded by long grass and garbage. The water cooler installed near the Appu Ghar is not functioning, which is causing a trouble to visitors as well as theatre artists.

Appu Ghar employees said, “Despite repeated complaints to the authorities concerned, no concrete steps have been taken so far.” Now, we had stopped telling them about the problems, he added.

Harsimran Kaur, a visitor, said, “I came here from Talwandi Sabo with my friends and it is sad how the garden has been allowed to be in bad shape. It looks like gardeners do not come here to do their jobs and give a proper look to plants.”

Despite paying full charges for parking vehicles, parking employees keep insisting and sometimes force visitors to pay the double charges, she added.

Hargobind Singh, another visitor, said, “Officials of the MC are spurred into action only when some political leader or VIP is scheduled to visit the Rose Garden.”

Harish Kumar, a city resident, said, “I come here for a morning walk every day. He urged the MC to take steps to maintain it and try to beautify the garden.” MC Commissioner Sanyam Agarwal, said, “I am not aware of the problems plaguing the Rose Garden and soon all problems would be resolved.”