Open House: What can be done to improve condition of rain-battered parks in City Beautiful?

Institutes, residents should adopt parks

It’s time to bring back the beauty of parks that suffered the monsoon onslaught. The Municipal Corporation should restart regular cleaning, pruning and repair works. But citizens must also do their part. Let’s avoid littering, use dustbins and involve our children in weekend clean-up or plantation drives. Institutes and RWAs can take the lead by adopting nearby parks. Small steps can make a big impact. Parks are not just for walks, they are spaces where families relax and children learn to care for nature. Let’s join hands to keep Chandigarh green and maintain its tag of ‘City Beautiful’.

Vineet Gandhi, Chandigarh

Designate specific teams for maintenance

Parks face cleanliness issues every year after the monsoon. The authorities often cite shortage of personnel and equipment to remove trash and trim grass. Ineffective waste management further leads to accumulation of litter in parks. Civic body should designate specific personnel or teams for park maintenance, including waste collection, grass mowing and repair of damaged infrastructure. Even segregation of waste at source and formulation of compost from organic waste should be encourged. Community participation should be encouraged and the authorities concerned should implement decentralised waste management system.

Capt Amar Jeet (Retd ), Kharar

Mobilise civic body workers, volunteers

Now that the monsoon has ended, it’s time to restore parks. Fallen leaves, mud and plastic waste must be cleared immediately through a coordinated cleanliness drive. Civic body workers and volunteers should be mobilised to sweep paths, unclog drains and remove stagnant water to prevent mosquito breeding. Damaged benches, swings and walking tracks need urgent repairs. Fresh plantation drives can revive greenery, while pruning overgrown shrubs will improve visibility and safety. Dustbins must be installed or replaced to discourage littering. Signboards promoting cleanliness and eco-awareness should be put up. Regular maintenance schedules must be enforced, with weekly inspections. Let’s also encourage residents to adopt a park and take pride in its upkeep. Clean parks uplift community spirit. Let’s act now and make them beautiful again.

Narinder Banwait, Chandigarh

Fix accountability of officials, politicians

The ‘City Beautiful’ has been loosing it sheen due to the deplorable condition of roads and parks. Even the RWAs have raised the issue of deplorable parks due to the shortage of funds. How can the shortage of funds have arised after so many years of city’s exsistence and regular fund availability? The lack of planning in advance for the funds and the accountability and responsibility of officials have worsened the situation. Political involvement at each step in spending the funds for mileage have further deplored the condition.

Wg Cdr JS Minhas (Retd), Mohali

Civic bodies should come up with SOPs

It has been observed that parks maintained by civic bodies are in a dire straits. The MC must come up with standard operating procedures (SOPs) to maintain parks. Social workers and senior citizens can play big role in assisting the authorities. With the assistance of mechanised garden tools, parks can be maintained in a better manner. Incentives must be given to those who maintain parks. Well-lit parks and CCTV cameras must be a top priority.

Col TBS Bedi, Mohali

Find ways to generate revenue for upkeep

The UT Administration should hire an expert from the Geological Survey of India to assess the condition of parks. The authorities should also allow commercial brands to display hoardings, which can generate revenue for the maintenance of parks. It can be used to hire a team of gardeners for regular maintenance of parks. The RWAs can partner with the administration to oversee the effective use of funds.

Sunny Dhaliwal, Chandigarh

Waste segregation need of the hour

Overgrown grass and clogged drains paint a bleak picture of parks. The Municipal Corporation should undertake special post-monsoon cleaning drives, trim vegetation and restore walking tracks. Regular maintenance schedules, public participation and installation of waste segregation bins can keep parks clean and green. Adopting a “Clean Park, Green City” campaign will ensure sustainable upkeep.

Dr Parvinder Singh, former VC

Smart waste management via IoT

Several parks are in a shamles due to waterlogging, accumulation of waste and overgrown vegetation. Irregular cleaning schedules and public littering has worsened the situation. The Municipal Corporation should organise clean-up drives, install additional bins and enhance drainage system. Smart waste management using IoT-based bins can alert authorities when they are full, ensuring timely garbage collection. High-pressure water jets should be used to clean muddy pathways. The authorities can also use bio-decomposers and composting units to convert organic waste into fertiliser, promoting eco-friendly recycling. Rainwater harvesting system and soil moisture sensors can help manage irrigation and prevent waterlogging. Additionally, mobile apps and drones can be used to monitor cleanliness and report problem in real time.

Dr Krishan Kumar, CU

Need to step up regular maintenance

Heavy rain caused flooding, leaving behind mud, debris and stagnant water in parks and streets. Chandigarh’s drainage system struggled as only 45 per cent of road gullies and stormwater drains were cleaned ahead of the monsoon. The MC needs to step up regular maintenance — sweeping, debris removal and drain cleaning. The RWAs can play a part in keeping parks clean through awareness drives or volunteers. Promoting sustainable practices like rainwater harvesting can make a big change.

Kirpal Singh, Chandigarh

Generate funds via public–pvt pacts

Parks need constant care and need to be nurtured like a child. The Municipal Corporation must invest judiciously in their upkeep to make Chandigarh a world-class tourist destination and generate revenue through eco-tourism. In case of limited funds, public–private partnerships can be a practical solution. Public awareness, school and college-level campaigns and Residents’ Welfare Association competitions should be encouraged to build collective responsibility.

Vijay Katyal, Panchkula

Regular audits a must to restore parks

To restore green spaces, the authorities concerned must launch post-monsoon cleanliness drive. Civic bodies should deploy mechanised tolls to clean dirt, leaves and intensify pruning. Stagnant water should be drained to curb mosquito breeding. Heavy penalties should be imposed on those found littering in parks. Regular audits by RWAs and strict oversight of gardeners is a must. “Adopt-a-Park” scheme can deepen community ownership and pride, ensuring continuous upkeep.

Gaganpreet Singh, Mohali

Residents should join hands with civic body

Now that the monsoon is over, Chandigarh’s parks, usually known for their cleanliness and greenery, appear unusually dirty and neglected. The heavy rains have left behind fallen leaves, broken branches and mud-covered pathways. Uncollected litter, such as plastic bottles and food wrappers washed in by the rains, now clutters lawns and flowerbeds. Overgrown grass and waterlogged patches have also encouraged mosquito breeding, making the parks less inviting for morning walkers and families. The cleaning drives that usually follow the rains seem delayed or insufficient this year. While the Municipal Corporation and Horticulture Department have done commendable work in maintaining the city’s green spaces, more regular upkeep and community participation are needed now. If residents join hands with civic authorities, Chandigarh can soon regain its reputation as “The City Beautiful”.

Harinder Singh Bhalla, Chandigarh

Improve rainwater harvesting mechanism

A bunch of key initiatives will be required to improve public parks in Chandigarh. Firstly, infrastructure upgrades are required, which include replacing dilapidated paver blocks and ensuring parks have good drainage to prevent water stagnation, in addition to ensuring smooth pedestrian-friendly pathways, proper slopes and accessible public conveniences to cater variety of needs for sports, social gathering, quiet relaxation and contemplation. Secondly, enhancing green spaces and constructing more specialised parks like sensory parks to engage the senses, particularly for differently-abled children, botanical gardens to promote ecotourism and biodiversity and butterfly parks to host nectar plants and include features nature trail for creating safe, inclusive spaces for all. Thirdly, implementing a tertiary water treatment plant and developing improved rainwater harvesting and groundwater charging mechanisms for environmental sustainability. Fourthly, actively engaging residents in the planning and design process by seeking public opinion to gather feedback and fostering a sense of ownership, regularly organising fitness programs, workshops, health awareness camps and educational events on social agendas can ensure the preservation and enjoyment of these spaces for everyone.

Vaibhav Goyal, Chandigarh

Revive post-monsoon cleanliness drives

The monsoon has bid farewell, leaving behind not just memories of rain, but carpets of fallen leaves, wilted blooms and plastic ghosts haunting Chandigarh’s once-proud parks. What were emerald stretches of calm now wear a weary face; grass overgrown, benches buried and puddles holding yesterday’s neglect. This isn’t merely the city’s failure, it’s ours too. The Municipal Corporation must revive post-monsoon clean-up drives, but true change begins when citizens step forward. Imagine weekends spent not scrolling screens, but sweeping pathways, reclaiming green corners that once breathed for us. Let the city’s lungs breathe again. For a park revived is not just land restored, it’s the soul of Chandigarh remembering how to bloom.

Nesha Rathi, Rohtak

Ensure timely pruning, waste removal

The end of the monsoon often leaves Chandigarh’s parks littered with leaves, overgrown grass and debris washed in by rainwater. While the city is known for its greenery, the lack of consistent maintenance after heavy rain exposes a gap in civic management. Workers are often diverted to clear waterlogging and drains during the monsoon, causing neglect in park upkeep. To restore their charm, the Municipal Corporation should conduct intensive post-monsoon clean-up drives and ensure regular pruning and waste removal. Involving resident welfare associations and school eco-clubs in “Clean Park” initiatives can foster civic pride. Installing more dustbins, deploying compost pits for organic waste and using volunteers to monitor upkeep would also help. Chandigarh’s parks are its lungs — keeping them clean must be a shared responsibility between authorities and citizens.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

Remove trash in scientific manner

Chandigarh is known for its green cover but looking at the response of the authorities, you’d be hard pressed to not think that they seem to be swept off their feet to this very obvious shift in weather, every single year. Parks have natural grass, soil base and are far more prone to becoming marshy if exposed to running water for too long without technical intervention. The authorities could care just a little more and clean all fallen branches, leaves and other debris. They could, obviously, also make sure the trash is safely collected and removed to enable the soil to dry out and minimise health risks to workers and visitors. The authorities would do all of this, only if residents hold them accountable.

Anmol Raj

Instil responsibility in residents

With the end of the monsoon, many parks have been left in a state of neglect. Waterlogging has damaged grass, pathways and benches. Moreover, fallen leaves, mud and litter have diminished natural charm of parks. The Municipal Corporation should launch a dedicated post-monsoon restoration campaign. This must include thorough cleaning, timely pruning of overgrown vegetation, repairing damaged infrastructure and restoring tracks. Adequate dustbins should be installed and emptied regularly to discourage littering. Public participation is equally important. Community-led clean-up drives and educational campaigns can instil a sense of responsibility into residents. Additionally, proper drainage systems must be maintained to prevent future waterlogging and soil erosion. Clean parks are vital for mental well-being of citizens.

Dr Kumud Sachdeva, Dera Bassi

Expedite release of maintenance funds

Having resided in Chandigarh for nearly 15 years, I have seldom found the city’s parks in an unclean state. Most are well maintained by the Municipal Corporation and RWAs , reflecting the city’s commitment to cleanliness. However, following the monsoon, temporary littering and debris accumulation are often the result of natural causes such as waterlogging due to recent floods, fallen leaves, and flooding, rather than negligence. To address the issue, civic body should ensure timely clearance of drains before and after the monsoon, expedite the release of maintenance funds to RWAs and strengthen coordination with sanitation teams. Additionally, waste disposal and prompt reporting of damaged areas can significantly enhance upkeep. With consistent effort from both authorities and residents, Chandigarh can continue to uphold its status as one of the cleanest and greenest cities in India.

Karman, Chandigarh

Grant one-time fund to tide over situation

Due to heavy rain this year, the condition of parks has worsened. It is a huge task to restore them to their original shape. With limited staff and resources, it had become very difficult for civic body to accomplish this task without some outside help. The Resident Welfare Associations should come forward with monetary help and manpower to clear the muck as these parks belong to them. The UT Administration should also grant one-time fund to tide over the situation caused by nature. Even NGOs should come forward to achieve the goal of making the parks attractive once again.

Sqn Ldr Manjit Johar (R), Chandigarh