Civic body has no staff for parks

Standing tall in arguably one of the best parks of the city, Rajiv Kakria, RWA member, Greater Kailash-I, E Block, remembered how they took over an awkward, shabbily-maintained green space and turned it into a proper park, reports Ritam Halder.

Standing tall in arguably one of the best parks of the city, Rajiv Kakria, RWA member, Greater Kailash-I, E Block, remembered how they took over an awkward, shabbily-maintained green space and turned it into a proper park.

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“It was in a mess. We started a Van Mahotsav to develop the space and engage people. The corporation used to send gardeners. Then when we took over its maintenance nine years ago. It slowly and steadily became what it is today,” Kakria said, adding that they have now plans to install a water cooler on the park premises.

According to him, there is a healthy competition among the RWAs to outdo each other in terms of beautification and maintenance of parks. “It is a contest but everyone is a winner in the end. The DDA parks are well maintained as the authority has better policies, benches and dustbins. The municipal corporation has not recruited staff for this purpose in the past few years. How will they look after so many parks?” Kakria asked.

He felt the corporation should hand over the maintenance of the parks to the respective citizen associations.

“The RWAs across the city will be more than happy to take care of the parks in their localities.”