Public Park in Kupwara turned into a garbage dumping site
Wasim Majnoon Mir
Kupwara: 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 this 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.
“I was a regular visitor to this old park and families always preferred to spend time with their loved ones here after their hectic workload. But the negligence of local authorities has let the park to be used as a garbage dumping site,” social activist, Umar Farooq said.
He appeal the local administration to maintain and manage the park properly for the sake of the people living in the area and the tourists who would have enjoyed the serenity of the park.
“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 to a population of around 20,000. We voluntarily gave our land for its development just to get a recreational place for district headquarters. But due to lackadaisical approach of Tourism Department, it has become a virtual playground and a garbage dumping site,” they added.
Notably, a public toilet that was constructed in the park has been encroached upon and the same is being used as a godown by some shopkeeper who is operating his business nearby.
“It is unfortunate that Kupwara being the district headquarter, officials have not paid attention to maintain the park, a group of students rued.
A local said that Tourism department should hand over this park to some private player who can maintain the park and let it be a place of recreation for the locals.
KV Correspondent
