| Park established over pond turns into personal asset of an industrial group | | Hoardings installed, guards deputed, brief timings fixed for locals | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 2: A park established on the controversial piece of land, of a water-body near Kalibari chowk of Kathua town, by an industrial group has turned out to be their personal property.
Hoardings of the industrial group along with guards have been deputed at the park, while brief timings have been fixed for the locals or visitors to venture into the park, raising serious question mark over the stake of district administration in the affairs.
Locals informed Early Times that though the park has been established on the land of a pond, which has been converted, in total violation of laid guidelines and laws of Supreme Court as well as High Court to protect water bodies, into a park under the name of Dr. KK Birla Park.
"The park has been developed by the Sutlej Industrial group under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) scheme but has been virtually owned by the industry owners, if one enquire about the state of affairs", sources said.
The name of the park is on the name of senior founder member of the Sutlej Group, while a statue has also been installed, sources said, adding that hoardings, making claims over the park by the company were also installed along with security guards.
"Though the public parks are usually available for visitors throughout the day till late nights but this park is only available for the locals till 9 AM in the morning and then from 5 PM to 9 PM in the evening while for remaining over 18 hours, the park remains out of bound for the commoners", sources said, adding that though the park must be the property of the district administration as the land ownership rest with the administration but the company management has been ruling the roost.
"With the onset of winters, people will be happy to visit the park after 9-10 AM to bask in the sun but at that time, the park will be out of bounds. Moreover, who will visit the park after 5 PM in winters, when sun sets", the locals questioned, adding that the district administration should took the monitoring role and direct the management to make available park throughout the day for the locals otherwise there was no use of the park, except wasting of CSR funds, which was actually public money. |
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