MC caught between demands, objections over construction of toilets at Baradari Gardens
Tribune News Service
Patiala, March 18
The Patiala Municipal Corporation is now caught between demands and objections raised by residents over the construction of public toilets at Baradari gardens. People raised objections that the construction would lead to loss of beauty and historical significance of the gardens. The corporation officials, however, claimed that they had started the construction because the visitors raised the demand of a public toilet at the gardens.
The Baradari gardens were built in 1876 by the ancestors of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, and is one of the iconic places in the city. The then maharaja had brought special and exotic trees to be planted at various locations.
The gardens are visited by morning walkers and senior citizens every day. People from other parts of the state also visit the gardens for its historical significance.
Raising objections over the construction, a city resident and member of Good Morning Baradari Friends Club, said: “Construction of toilets at the place will not add to the beauty of the gardens, rather it will defeat the purpose. The gardens have been preserved for many years now. In the place of toilets, a dispensary or a library should be construction at the place. The club has brought the matter to the notice of the Corporation Commissioner as well.”
Another morning walker also raised objection that public toilets had already been constructed and there was no need to build new units. He said: “The already constructed public toilets of the cafeteria are closed. The Corporation could have revamped the place and provided provisions for people instead.”
MC Commissioner Poonamdeep Kaur said: “We received the demand for a public toilet from Deputy Director, Horticulture Office. The people visiting the gardens regularly demanded for construction of a public toilet at the premises as it lacked one. The construction has been started acting on the demands of morning walkers. We will stop the construction if they do not want it.”
Half-constructed structure lies ignored
Meanwhile, the Corporation has not been able to remove the debris left on the road at Choti Baradari, where the plan to construct a public toilet was halted owing to corporation’s lack of planning. The Corporation had started construction of a public toilet at Choti Baradari by encroaching on a footpath near the office of Improvement Trust, Patiala, in December 2018. Two years later, the site is frequented by drug addicts, but the Corporation has failed to remove it ever since. Corporation Commissioner Poonamdeep Kaur said she had directed the office to clear the site and the approval to shift the public toilet at another site had already been granted.
