Once a beauty, now a filthy mess

Once a beauty, now a filthy mess
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Once the pride of Bangalore, Cubbon Park has fallen on bad days. The city’s major lung space has fallen victim to bureaucratic inertia. The 300-acre park today urgently needs a wash and brush-up.

Sadly, the ‘elders’ seem unconcerned about the children who frequent the park and who are at risk of contracting contagious diseases spread by the garbage in and around the park. It has become an eyesore, with plastic bottles, wrappers and leftover food strewn all around.

Visitors say that the park is dirty and unhygienic. They are also reluctant to let their children accompany them for some rest.

“The park has lost its beauty compared to earlier years. As youngsters, when we visited the place with our parents it was very tidy. But now the area is no more a safe environment,” said Pushpanjali, a concerned parent.

The Bal Bhavan Society, though aware of the health hazards, is helpless as it has only 55 members to maintain the 12.5 acres of playing area.

Secretary of the Society Ahmed Hasan admitted that to maintain cleanliness was a difficult task and they were struggling to clean the area.

“The visitors, too, should show some concern. Other agencies should also enforce strict measures to protect the park,” he said.

Similarly, the Horticulture department, too, is understaffed with 108 officials including 23 cleaners to maintain a 200-acre area.

Director of Horticulture Department Dr G K Vasanth Kumar said that plastics should be totally banned.

“People should be educated about maintaining cleanliness,” he said. Both Bal Bhavan Society and Horticulture Department should take the help volunteers and start a cleanliness drive. School children, too, can do the work and keep the premises clean.

“Leaves should not be burnt as they pose greater threat to the environment. They should be collected and piled up near the trees for decomposition. Officials should also be educated about maintaining cleanliness within the premises,” said Kumar.