By R. Chandra Prakash

Cheluvamba Park in V.V. Puram near Akashvani has been “developed” by MCC at great financial costs over a period. Rain Water Harvesting system was implemented here. During 2014-17, Rs. 35-plus lakh contract was given for developing the walking path, planting suitable garden plants, developing lawn with Mexican grass with sprinkler system to keep the grass green all round the year. The cost of tender included maintenance of the newly-renovated garden for next three years.

In 2016, Solar Power generating system was established at a cost of about Rs.40 lakh with an ambition of providing uninterrupted lighting in the park during night.  A toilet was built under public demand. A large sump was built at great cost as borewell was found insufficient for the water requirement of the renovated park. Due to demand from a group of park users, used interlocking tiles were laid on the internal walk path. Several new stone benches were provided for the users. Fancy dustbins were also installed at various places within the park.

With so much of money poured into this park, Cheluvamba Park should have been a Model and Modern Park. But, then why is that walkers are frustrated, contacting area Corporator/s, MLAs and the MCC officials?

Because, all the money spent on this park seems to have gone down the drain. The condition of main walk path is pathetic [see pic.]. At several places pebbles/stones are projecting due to soil erosion caused by faulty surface and unscientific drainage of rain water. At certain places these erosions are due to uncontrolled water spray from the sprinklers. That is, when they were once working!  Top soil used is of sub-standard quality which contain large size stones and pebbles. 

Cheluvamba Park is a chosen destination of senior and super-senior citizens of both genders. They come from far and near, such as Brindavan Extension as well as Vijayanagar, apart from nearby Yadavagiri and VV Mohalla. Many of these delicate citizens have already taken a fall due to such pathetic condition of walk path. Even strong middle-aged users have had a taste of it. Those of them who used to prefer to walk barefoot, now have been visiting medical specialist for the damage suffered by their feet.

Rain Water Harvesting is not functional and filled with eroded mud and sand [see pic.]. Sprinklers are non-functional for various reasons [see pic.]. Mexican grass, which was chosen against the public advice, has vanished and is now fully occupied by weeds [see pic.]. Solar Power system is now hiding behind tall plants and having functioned for couple of months, is now fully non-functional [see pic.]. It has not reduced electricity bill even a bit.

The public toilet is either locked or without water and hardly maintained properly. Even recently installed Public Gymnasium, which has attracted a large number of park users of all age groups and both the genders, has several broken equipment and is not maintained. This surely is going to cause injuries to the users in near future.

Will MCC officials, area Corporators, MLAs and others look into this and provide necessary solutions to the problems confronted by Cheluvamba Park users? Can all the money spent on various projects in this park be useful to the public?