Chhapar road park becomes white elephant

Mahesh Sharma

Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 4

Recreational park established on the Chhapar road at the western end of the town by turning a garbage dump into the visitor’s spot has become a white elephant for the Municipal Council.

While the park, designed by Apneet Kaur, then Ludhiana ADC, and the brain child of then legislator Iqbal Singh Jhoondan, is yet to become popular among masses, certain equipment installed there require massive repairs or replacement.

Frequent repair and maintenance of alleged poor quality illumination system, fancy lights, musical system and the casket fountain installed at the park is a recurrent burden on the civic body.

Demanding a probe into the procurement of various elements of infrastructure and fixtures, residents, led by social activists Naresh Sharma, said replacement of expensive items, including illumination system and fancy lights, should be got done from suppliers as part of guarantee.

“Even if the office-bearers and officials of the civic body had no ulterior motive behind purchase of poor quality items, they should have taken sufficient care while spending public money and ensured that the supplier gives guarantee of their proper functioning,” argued the residents.

Justifying the demand raised by the residents, president of the Municipal Council Shiraj Mohammad said he had already asked councillor Issa Mohammad to get the needful done. Replacement of defective items and proper illumination of the entire park will be ensured, he claimed.

Issa Mohammad said prima facie it seemed a large number of expensive items installed at the park were of poor quality. “However, we have decided to replace sufficient number of lamps and get the old pieces replaced,” said Issa Mohammad.

The park was constructed on a piece of land that had been used as a garbage dump two years ago. Though the ownership lies with the Municipal Council, the plot was situated in the area that falls under the jurisdiction of Chhapar village.

Though certain leaders opposed the move, councillors, led by then MC present Paramjit Kaur and former president Ravinder Puri, approved the project.