Rose Garden no longer presents a rosy picture

Sukhmeet Bhasin

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Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 14

The most frequented part of the city and a major tourist attraction for residents of the nearby towns, the Rose Garden paints a picture of neglect these days as the Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) is not undertaking maintenance work here.

Due to the negligent attitude of MCB, the fountain pond in it has been lying in an ailing condition. The condition is such that the tiles of the fountain pond are failing off at many points. Even the lights are not functioning properly.

Cemented walking tracks, iron seats and swings have been provided but poor maintenance of the park has given it a disenchanting view.

A high number of morning walkers come to the rose garden daily. The park is also crowded in the evening as residents bring their children for recreation.

City resident Vikas Gupta said, “I come here for morning walk every day. I feel sad on seeing the ailing condition of the fountain pond here. He urged that the MCB should not only maintain it, but also undertake beautification of the garden.”

Another resident Jaspal Sharma said it was shameful that the civic body had failed to maintain the Rose Garden properly. The MC officials swing into action only when some politicians have to visit and on other days, they do not take care of the functioning of fountains and maintaince, he added.

Mayor Balwant Rai Nath said the issue was in their notice but they were facing a financial crunch. The maintenance of the rose garden will be undertaken with the funds of the Amrut scheme.

He said, “We are waiting for release of the funds from the Centre government under this scheme but it is still not clear as to when the funds would be released.”

The MCB has given the contract for canteen at the Rose Garden for Rs 5.5 lakh per year. It has given games area on contract at Rs 18-20 lakh for five years. It has also given parking area of the garden on contract. It is surprising that in spite of all these funds going to the MC’s coffers, the Rose Garden is poorly maintained.