Kupwara, Mar 25: A Public Park, constructed by Tourism Department in the heart of town here has been turned into a Garbage dumping site with people alleging that the concerned department was watching all that as mute spectator.
Constructed in 2010 with a cost of around Rs 25 lakh by Lolab-Bungus-Drungyari Tourism Development Authority (LBDTDA), the park, according to locals, is continuously being damaged by some miscreants who vandalize prized Deodar furniture of its huts, costly hoarding on its gate, iron railings ,benches and dump garbage to convert it into a garbage dumping site.
Social Activist Adv. Umar Farooq told our Special correspondent Wasim Majnoon Mir, that he sometimes was regular visitor to this old park that families will always prefer to spend time with their loved ones after their hectic workload in such parks but the negligence of local authorities stopped families to entertain with their children as well as loved ones. He however appeal the local administration to maintain and manage the park properly for the sake of families.
“The benches are being used as wickets by local youth who regularly organised cricket tournaments in this park. Over the past couple of years, even poultry farms used this park for their own will adding foul smell to its environs,” locals said. “This was the only public park in Kupwara town catering a population of around 20,000. We voluntarily gave our land for its construction just to get a recreational place for district headquarters. But due to lackadaisical approach of Tourism Department, it has become a virtual playground, Garbage dumping site and poultry farm,” they added.
“It is unfortunate that being Kupwara a district headquarter, officials have not paid attention to maintain the park, a group of students told our correspondent.”
According to our Special correspondent Wasim Majnoon Mir, Some prominent citizens of town told this correspondent, that authorities neglect attitude towards maintaining this old park suffers us, if the authorities will maintain this park it would serve the children of the area and will become the best place to refresh and to spend quality time with friends and family they added.
“They said if Tourism Department was unable to maintain it, they should hand over the park to private parties who can take care of it and also add more facilities there.”
