Public parks in Karnal cry for attention

Parveen Arora

Karnal, February 3

Public parks in most parts of the city are in a shambles, failing to attract visitors. Jogging tracks, swings, lights, and benches in some of the parks have been dysfunctional for a long time. Heaps of garbage and stagnant water add to the woes of the visitors.

There are 197 parks in the city. Of these, the Karnal Municipal Corporation (KMC) looks after 17 parks, while the responsibility to upkeep 20 parks has been given to resident welfare associations (RWAs), and the remaining 160 parks have been given to contractors for maintenance.

Parks are considered vibrant community hubs where people can enjoy recreational activities. However, a majority of the parks in the city present a sorry state of affairs due to lack of maintenance.

Karna Park, one of the oldest parks, presents a pitiable sight. Broken swings narrate the picture of neglect and poor maintenance. “These swings were meant to be enjoyed by children but these are in a dilapidated state. The authorities concerned should take steps for the upkeep of this park,” said Sachin Sharma, a local resident.

Atal Park, one of the biggest parks in the city named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, has been neglected. “This park was once a major attraction for greenery, but it is now crying for attention. Fountains are lying defunct, which need maintenance,” said Sunil Sachdeva, a local resident.

Equipment of the open-air gym are broken, while the Wi-Fi facility has been non-functional for several months, he added.

Fountain Park in Sector 12, inaugurated by the then Industry Minister Shashipal Mehta on August 5, 1998, once known for its beauty, is now crying for attention. “It has been neglected for a long time. The park is in a pathetic condition. Fountains have been lying defunct. The authorities should ensure the upkeep of the park,” said Siddharth, a local resident.

All the parks on the Karna Canal, earlier known as Mughal Canal, are in bad condition as they lack greenery. Fountains are lying non-functional.

“The condition of swings and open-air gyms is almost same in the majority of the parks. The authorities should take steps so that people can visit these parks for recreational purposes,” said Amit Bhatia, a local resident.

Naresh Tyagi, XEN, Horticulture, KMC, said all the parks were being monitored and contractors had been asked to ensure their upkeep. “Some parks are well maintained,” he added.

Abhishek Meena, Commissioner, KMC, said he had asked the officials concerned to check all the parks and ensure their maintenance. “I have asked the XEN to prepare a list of the works which will be carried out in these parks and float a joint tender,” he added.