No playground for kids in upper Dharamsala

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, August 31

Residents have complained the lack of playground for children in the upper Dharamsala area that includes McLeodganj, Dharamkot and Bhagsunag. They have sent a request to the local Municipal Corporation, the MLA and the Mayor to provide a ground to children in McLeodganj.

Gazalla Abdullah an Overseas Indian Citizen, who has been staying in McLeodganj for the past few decades and environmental activist, said about two decades ago, there used to be ample open spaces. However, lands had been occupied by commercial buildings. There was no space left for children to play. About 1,000 to 2,000 Indian and Tibetan families live in the upper Dharamsala area.

Gazalla said the residents had requested Mayor Onkar Nehria, who is a resident of upper Dharamsala, to develop a park for children.

Suresh Thakur, another resident, said even the government was constructing buildings on the open spaces. Departments should give their lands for developing a park for children in McLeodganj.

Since Dharamsala was being developed as a smart city, the concept could not complete without an open space for children, he said.

Vishal Nehria, Dharamsala MLA, in his speech in the monsoon session, said he intended to develop two parks in each ward of Dharamsala. He said though the government provided funds for the development of parks, no funds were available for their maintenance. The government should make a provision for maintenance of parks.

He said the authorities were looking for open spaces and parks would be developed soon.