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Written by: Press Trust of Kashmir

Category: ENVIRONMENT

Published: 04 November 2017

• Assets vandalized by miscreants, officials unmoved

KUPWARA: The negligence of the government officials have turned a Public Park constructed by Tourism Department in the main Kupwara  into a messy filed. Locals said that the park has been damaged by the miscreants as the concern department doesn’t bother to take care of the public property meant for local inhabitants. They said that the prized Deodar furniture of its hutments, costly hoarding on its gate, iron railings and benches have been vandalized under the very nose of authorities.

Locals said that the benches are being used as wickets by some local youth play cricket in the park, hence making the space inconvenient for the families and children. They added that from past few years, even poultry farms have been opened in the vicinity of the park adding foul smell to its environment. “This was the only public park in Kupwara town catering a population of around 40,000. 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 and poultry farm,” they added. Residents 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.

While talking to PTK, a civil society member, Irfan Ahmad told, that the park was meant for the local populace to spend some time with their families after a daylong hectic work schedules. “I myself was regular visitor of this park. Many families including mine prefer to spend some time in this park. But since it has become an open messy filed, we stopped to visit”, he said.

He said that the apathy of the authorities not only stopped families to visit the park but also results into the damage of public asset worth huge sums. He adds that on behalf of the civil society Kupwara and people of the town, he appeals district administration to pay attention towards the matter. He adds that the concern authorities should maintain the park and safeguards its assets to fulfill its purpose.  Pertinently the park has been constructed in 2010 with a cost of around Rs 20 lakh by Lolab-Bungus-Drungyari Tourism Development Authority (LBDTDA).