The parks need attention

Parks in the Garden City seem to have very little to boast of. The BBMP’s (Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike) apathy towards citizens doesn’t end with the lack of good roads. Many parks in the City too have escaped the civic agency’s attention. While Lalbagh and Cubbon Park, considered to be among Bangalore’s major tourist destinations, have adequate facilities, most of the other parks are only left to cry for attention.

The Banashankari Brindavana Park in Banashankari 2nd Stage stinks any time of the day as a public toilet is attached to the park. Regular visitors have no option but to cover their noses when walking near the park. Ramachandra, a resident of Banashankari 2nd Stage, says, “It is good that there is a public toilet very close to the park as many elderly people find the need to use it. Unfortunately, the toilet has not been maintained properly and this causes the trouble. We are not asking for any luxuries. Just regular cleaning can be helpful for many senior citizens.”  

For residents near N Laxman Rao Park in Jayanagar 7th Block (behind National College), walking close to the park after 8 pm is a challenge.  The road lacks streetlights. Usha, a resident of Jayanagar 37th Cross, says, “The entire stretch from Sangam Circle till South End Circle is flanked by parks. Streetlights are missing, which has often led to untoward incidents on this stretch. It feels unsafe to walk even with my children. Especially on the stretch from National College to the end of the road, I don’t see people walking in the evening. The streetlights covered with trees do not serve any purpose and the street is pitch dark after the lights inside the park are turned off. Not only pedestrians — it’s also difficult for motorists.”

However, the BBMP has forgotten its responsibilities and the City police are not interested in helping the common man, says an angry Keshav Kumar, president of the Jayanagar Residents’ Welfare and Cultural Association.

He says, “Being the president of this association, I have tried my best to get the authorities’ attention, but in vain. The parks here are a mess. Early in the morning, you can find college students engaging in public displays of affection. Later in the day, thugs steal lights in the park and go out confidently. This is happening right in front of our eyes but shockingly, it is ignored by the policemen. There are numerous cases of chain snatching, but you cannot spot a single policeman trying to help us. Where should we go seeking justice?” He adds that though the residents have tried to bring this situation to the notice of the corporator, the authorities have turned deaf ears to their complaints.  
Near Koramangala, the situation in Kuvempu Park in Bismillah Nagar is no different. Boys are seen smoking inside the park at 10 in the morning and women prefer to stay away from this park. Residents say the officials too are aware of the security concerns here but have not considered providing a solution. 

Not very far from the suburbs, Bommanahalli has a different story altogether. Balbeer Singh, a resident, says, “There is only one park in Vijaya Bank Colony for the entire locality. That too lacks maintenance. Slabs on the walking track are broken and the track is not even. There is no play area for the children. All the children in this area are literally left on the streets as there is no other place for them to play.”

“An MLA from the previous government had hinted that there was no solution,” Balbeer adds. “When residents posed questions about developing a park here, he said show me the space, and the next day we will begin our work. And nothing happened,” she says. There are endless problems in many of the parks, including the ones in posh areas too. The least the BBMP can do is to maintain them properly.