Ghaziabad residents turn open dumpyard into park for senior citizens

Residents of Sector 18 Vasundhara have turned a neglected area in the sector into a lush green park that has become a centre of attraction for those living in the locality.

Residents of Sector 18 have turned a neglected area in the sector into a lush green park that has become a centre of attraction for those living in the locality.

Residents of Sector 18, Vasundhara have turned a neglected area in the sector into a lush green park. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

A piece of land on the internal road, which acts as a divider between Royal Legacy apartments and Elite Estate apartments, used to be covered with garbage and was a hub for pigs and dogs.

The residents of Royal Legacy apartments started the initiative to clean the area, which gave out a foul smell and was filled with pests, in 2012.

“This common area comes under the responsibility of the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation but we were not satisfied with their work as they would clear the garbage, once in three days, but never clean it. As a result, the area was constantly covered in filth and gave out a bad smell,” Sunil Varshney, a residents of Royal Legacy apartments, said.

Residents decided to take matters in their own hands. Equipped with shovels, disinfectants and water pipes, they cleaned the common area and spend around `50,000 to convert the land into a green area.

“We spent `40,000 to fence the park as its boundary is made of concrete. We used barbed wire to check entry of stray animals and installed a four-foot tall green mesh to support the plants. We spent an additional `10,000 on the grass and planting trees,” Rajendra Gupta, secretary of Royal Legacy Apartments residents’ welfare association (RWA), said.

From children to senior citizens, all residents participated in the plantation drive. At present, after three years of work, the park is filled with different kinds of flowers -- sunflower, marigold and balsam. The land is also a favourite hub for senior citizens who like to go on morning walks.