Parks in New Focal Point area in neglect

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 22

Parks in the new Industrial Focal Point area are in a bad due to neglect by the authorities. Overgrown grass and broken swings and tracks are common a sight in the parks.

The New Focal Point was developed by the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC) in 1984. There are over 100 industrial units in the area wherein more than 4,000 persons work. Residents prefer not to set their foot in the ill-maintained parks, which have become an abode for stray animals and mischievous elements in the area.

Sukhchain Singh, a resident, said: “The parks were last cleaned years ago. During rain, water accumulates for weeks inside the parks and these emanate a foul smell, making it difficult for residents to commute.” He added that there were no boundary walls and cattle could be seen grazing inside the parks.

An executive member of the Bathinda Small Industries Association said: “The units pay around Rs 50 crore annually as tax to the government, but still the area is without basic amenities. If the authorities cannot invest more to upgrade the parks, they should at least maintain the present infrastructure. The shabby look of the parks leaves a poor impression on visiting business delegates and traders.” He said the PSIEC authorities had not appointed a gardener to cut grass, prune plants and ensure cleanliness in the parks.

Workers employed in the industrial units said they could not enter the parks due to fear of getting bitten by insects or reptiles.