Dark and dilapidated park

Dark and dilapidated park


Y Maheswara Reddy Express News ServiceFirst Published : 07 Jul 2010 12:32:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 07 Jul 2010 08:36:03 AM IST
BANGALORE: Residents of Ulsoor and Jogupalya were pleased when the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) converted Gundappa Ground into a park nine years ago. It was a boon for those who could not go to the Ulsoor Lake for a stroll in mornings or evenings.
The BBMP equipped the park with a fountain and lights. There was an area set aside for children to play. The BBMP had even assigned a private contractor to maintain the park. However, the pleasure has turned into pain. The park needs the urgent attention of BBMP authorities. Many people complain that it is not properly maintained. “Many stray dogs enter the park. It has become difficult for me to walk here,” claims Sapna Kolekar.
The park lacks proper fencing. The contractor put up an iron grill instead of fencing the park. Stray dogs, thus, easily enter the park through the grill and create a nuisance. “The presence of stray dogs frightens me. I come to the park for peace of mind but dogs disturb me a lot,” says N Rajasekhar of Cambridge Road. The lights in the park do not work and some of the bulbs have even been stolen.
“I am a regular visitor to this park. It had been maintained properly for a few years. The need of the hour is to keep the park clean and put up a gate on the other side. Some miscreants cut the fence to enter the park at night,” says BS Venkata Subba Reddy, a retired assistant engineer of BESCOM. Heera Nayak, deputy commissioner (east) BBMP, says that he will send the officials concerned to inspect the park. Gautham Kumar, the corporator of Jogupalya, says that no one had brought these problems to his notice.
“I will visit the park and take measures to prevent miscreants using this park at night. People should lodge a complaint with Ulsoor police against them,” Kumar said.