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| Despite formal inauguration, Jogger's Park still a 'distant dream' | | | Kunal Shrivatsa
JAMMU, Apr 9: Even as a Joggers park on the west side of river Tawi named after last Dogra ruler of the state Maharaja Hari Singh was dedicated to Jammuites on April 1 with much fanfare, but after formal inauguration of the project it seems that authorities concerned have again gone into deep slumber as there is no sign of setting into motion the process of upgrading the facilities in the recreational area.
The 'park' or more appropriate to describe it as just an open space going by its present form was inaugurated by former Chief Minister of the state and Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad with political hullabaloo.
Envisaged three years back when Azad was at the helm of affairs of the State, the park was brainchild as a place to relax and breathe in fresh air besides a space which Jammuites have been craving for since long.
Before the inauguration, the agencies concerned took up the work of giving a face lift to the park and its adjoining areas on war footing and in no time the road along side, which was in a dilapidated condition for the last few years, got black topped while pavement in the interior also came up.
The way work was being executed in lightening speed, jogging enthusiasts of Jammu hoped that the park would ultimately see the light of the day and people could now enjoy a green space in the heart of the city, however, after nine days the things are again back to square one as the work on its improvement has been stalled abruptly.
Some of the joggers who spoke to Early Times said that one can not term it as a park since the area lacks basic facilities like electricity, drinking water and seating arrangements viz a viz green patches, plants or flowers.
"After its inauguration, I visited the park with a hope that finally a place to enjoy morning and evening walks is now a reality for avid lovers of joggling like me but the huge recreation area is nothing but a barren piece of land where there is no sign of greenery, leave aside other facilities and recreational infrastructure that merits any open area to be called as a park," a disappointed jogger, Sanjay Sharma said.
"There is no sign of grass, flower beds and decorative plants that could give some visual pleasure to the visitors besides the park is without benches to sit and relax. What came as a rude shock is the fact that even after it was thrown open for the public, the authorities concerned have not installed lighting system inside the park. After dawn sets in, it is dead dark inside which prevents walkers to remain in the park during late evening hours," he added.
People residing near the park said that the walkers may or may not using it but the drunkards are utilising the space for their own enjoyment and they are the ones who are ruling the roost.
Some of the residents said if this is not enough people have started to exploit the open space by learning driving inside the premises. |
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