They clean, water park with no supply

Everyday is environment day for Uttara Majumdar. After packing lunch for her schoolgoing daughter each morning, she picks up a bucket and heads to the nearby colony park to water the plants.

Everyday is environment day for Uttara Majumdar. After packing lunch for her schoolgoing daughter each morning, she picks up a bucket and heads to the nearby colony park to water the plants.

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This is the case with most residents of K-Block, Chittaranjan Park, who clean and water the park themselves because the civic agency doesn't supply any water to this green patch.

“The government rants about a greener Delhi, but it has done very little towards accomplishing the cause,” says Majumdar, who is also secretary of CR Park K Block Residents Welfare Association (RWA).

“For the last eight months, we have been fighting for a pipeline to our main park. The residents themselves water the plants and contribute money to maintain the area,” adds Majumdar.

The bone of contention between the MCD and the RWA is a park being maintained by the association. The RWA says the area councillor Dhir Singh Kasana gave stepmotherly treatment to K Block.

Meanwhile, efforts made by the residents are visible as the park, which was a dumping ground about five months ago, will soon be an ornamental garden. “The government’s apathy has strengthened our resolve to make our area look greener,” says Majumdar.

“We want to make seating arrangements for people. For teenagers, we want to construct basketball and tennis courts,” adds Bhowmik.

Even though tubewell boring was done in a nearby park by the horticulture department in November last year, the K Block main park was avoided.

“There was a procedural delay and we did our best to get the pipeline sanctioned. The matter is on the priority list,” says Ranbir Singh, Deputy Director, Horticulture Department.

Assuring a swift solution to K block problems, area councillor Dhir Singh Kasana says, “We have sanctioned the amount and within a week K block main park will get a water pipeline and other basic facilities.”