From barren land to fresh green park

From barren land to fresh green park
Deccan Herald

RT Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association president K Srinivasan says a lot of effort has gone in to ensure the park’s present fresh, green look.

Not many of us would attach a morning jog with the bustle of a neighbourhood school or fast cars moving around. As late as at 9 am, Rabindranath Tagore Park in RT Nagar has sweaty joggers and reclining senior citizens still trying to catch the morning air. For the RT Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association, which maintains the park, it’s just another day at work. Fifteen years after adopting the park, the association is looking at more resident participation, and less commercial activity in the predominantly residential area.

“The electricity and water bills are taken care of by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and the Horticulture Department has helped us with the lawn, but more involvement from the residents will help us in maintaining the park better,” says T R P Naidu, Secretary of the association. Mr Naidu makes it a point to be at the park during peak morning hours, chatting up and collecting feedback from joggers. The association, which has 308 members and 15 patrons, spends more than Rs 10,000 annually on the park and the expenses are set to get bigger.

Association president K Srinivasan says a lot of effort had gone in to ensure the park’s present fresh, green look. “It was a barren piece of land when the association took over. After 15 years, we feel there should be more hands helping us out,” says Mr Srinivasan and adds that the association has asked for a five-year renewal of rights to maintain the park.

The park has an illuminated fountain, evenly spaced out garbage bins and a recently opened pathway and has around 100 people dropping in at mornings. “In the evenings, it’s mostly a family crowd and we close by around 8.30 pm,” says Association Treasurer M B Hegde. The association has employed a gardener who uses water from the park’s borewell. “The lawn-mower, benches, signboards, garbage bins and even the plants have been donated by the patrons,” says Mr Naidu. The association, which covers around 1000 houses across RT Nagar I and II blocks, P&T Colony and Ex-Servicemen Colony, is also worried about the commercial activities which are disrupting the area’s quiet.

“This neighbourhood, especially P&T Colony I Cross has a lot of commercial activity which affects vehicular traffic,” says K Prahalad, Executive Committee member of the Association.

The seemingly upmarket area doesn’t have a playground and is also hit by cluttered roads and official apathy. However, the association has learned to move on and make things happen. They feel they can pull it off again. Contact RT Nagar Residents Welfare Association at 23330946.