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| 'Maharaja' still faces neglect, Hari Singh memorial park wears shabby look | | One step forward one back | | KUNAL SHRIVATSA
JAMMU, Aug 2: Jammu may be the winter capital of the State and classified as 'B-2' city but going by the lack of proper urban development viz a viz lack of basic amenities gives it an appearance of nothing more than a 'C' grade town and making the spirits of employees down who are demanding upgrading of present status.
It may sound as exaggeration of words but it is very much true when one gives a glance at Jogger's Park on the west side of river Tawi named after last Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh, the road alongside the recreational area besides the parking lot nearby and just opposite the office of 'Early Times'.
The 'shabby' and 'untidy' condition of these three landmarks in the heart of the city clearly reflects the promise of coalition government's tall claims of good governance, planned development of capital cities and providing state of the art infrastructure within the Jammu Municipal limits.
It is more than a year now when the Joggers' park was thrown open to public on April 1, 2012, however, the dilapidated condition in which it stands today is a 'far cry from reality' since the Jammuites had high hopes that after the inauguration of the park it will cater to the needs of morning and evening walkers but the things turned from bad to worst.
"After the Joggers' park was inaugurated, it was joie de vivre for many especially for me and those who are passionate about jogging…. I imagined myself strolling down the park alongside river Tawi in mornings and evenings but soon everything came crashing down as the huge recreation area has nothing to offer but a barren piece of land where there is no greenery leave aside other facilities and recreational infrastructure," a regular morning walker, Nikhil Sharma said. In rainy season, the Joggers' park and the parking lot just facing it literally turn into swimming pools as rain water gets logged for days since the drainage system is missing. The accumulation of water is an open invitation to diseases and could result into pandemic. "Garbage and filth inside the Joggers' park and nearby parking lot play havoc during monsoon as rain water gets accumulated there due to piles of rubbish and with the absence of drainage system, things get further worsened… The place where water gets logged and remain stationary for few days is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects which are the root cause in spreading diseases like malaria and dengue," Rajiv, a resident of the area, said. |
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