25/08/2026
DEPLORABLE CONDITION OF EIDGAH PARK SRINAGAR.
=========================
Constituency Development Fund of MLAs had been increased by the Government from two crores to five crores with the purpose of bringing a holistic development in the Constituency of MLA. But the purpose of this scheme has failed due to multiple reasons as reported by the parliamentary committee on public affairs constituted by the parliament some years before. According to the report these funds are either misused or lapsed or stuck up in procedural wrangles or due to the inefficiency of the officers at the helm of affairs. Sometimes MLAs do not project their priorities in time with the result it get stuck up in official delays. Broadly speaking the usufract of the scheme does not percolate down to people due to one reasons or the other. Some times fixation of untagible targets, bad planning, long time implementation, carry over liabilities to next year are also contributory factors of failure. Unfortunately some MLAs after being elected feel that they have come from the heaven, and are not accountable to anyone. Everybody is accountable who occupies a public post. Then they hide as per past practice in bankers and avoid facing public issues. Party leaders need to take a review of the performance of the representatives as also public opinion. In fact, politicians are servants of the people and authority in the democratic system flows from people. If nothing works we will approach Manoj Sinha Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory for replacement of worthless officers. Since Badamwari park has been closed for morning walkers, without any logic, therefore maximum foot fall of people is noticed in Eidgah park both morning and evening time inspite of a number of problems. Badamwari park has now become a park of ghosts because neither locals nor tourists visit this park because it has lost its grit and glamour. This era will be known as blackest chapter in the history. Honestly speaking Bank was maintaining this park in professional style and there was absolutely no flaw in its maintenance. This park and some more parks were transferred from jk bank to Floriculture Department in 2019 which was beginning of devastation for the parks. Floriculture Department has 367 parks in kashmir and 282 parks in jammu under its administrative control. The Department has no budget and skilled manpower. I think they are facing difficulties on account of budget and skilled manpower. I published an article with its title *Gold on ground *in which i raised the issue of broken Almond trees of Badamwari Park lying on the ground for the last 4 years. I had requested the Administration that if the broken Almond trees are chopped off in pieces it could generate lot of money for the Department but as usual my prayer proved a cry in wilderness.
I am a member of many committees in America where i live (Colorado)and my opinion is given due weightage but my prayer has no value here. This parks has zero maintenance and became a dumping site for all waste of park.
Record number of dogs are found in and around Eidgah Park because Municipal corporation is dumping all waste open on the road which becomes open feast for the dogs. Secondly the chiken waste and sheep waste of butchers is brought at night and thrown on the road near the gate which invite dogs in large number who enjoy the feast and then start fighting and howling on the visitors. The big truck are usually parked outside which adds nuisance to the park. It is advisable that big dumpers are placed at the site so that dogs do not get access to it. Unfortunately adequate attention is not given either by the MLA or local administration for its maintenance and dog menace. I would suggest the following measures to be taken for its improvement and maintenance of the park. If things do not improve we will request Government of india to conduct audit through comptroller and Auditor General of india for its proper usage.
1. A committee of some educated persons be constituted who would periodically meet and advise for better maintenance of the park.
2.There are no benches to sit on. Whatever 3 or 4 benches they are all broken not worth to sit on. I am ready to donate 10 benches for the park provided some system is evolved. I have seen in UK and America people donate such articles for comfort of park visitors. They inscribed name of the doner on the donated item.
3. Selective manual lawn moving is being done at this time which is time consuming and expensive. In this way it will take 6 months.
Instead of manual deweeding, mechanical deweeding may be done which is fast and economical also.
4. The entry gate of park is source of all ills because dogs usually enter through this gate.. It may be removed at once and revolving iron gate fixed which need no gate keeper and help in keeping dogs out. Broken points if any in the walling may be sealed.
5. Worn out and discarded gymnasium equipment dumped at the corner of the park may be auctioned. It is there for last 3 years. Likewise fallen trees on the ground may also be chopped off in pieces and auctioned so that it could generate some money. This worn out equipment is lying and decaying there in the corner of the park for the last 3 years. The gymnasium area may be cemented or tiled which will save visitors from dirt and dust from all seasons.
6. Menace of dogs is a long term problem and the park has become a breeding place for dogs and the f***l matter is found all over the park. The administration has failed to solve this public problem. Lot number of people both adult and children were bitten by dogs every year and no permanent solution is hammered out.
7.Five concrete structures have been erected in the park without any usage. This is total wastage of money. But irony is there is no male/female washrooms. This is a fact that some unscrupulous elements damage public property but that does not mean that other class of people should be penalized.
8. In the heart of park there is a pond filled with all filth and stinky water. I fail to understand why this pond was conceived and money spent on it when there is no usage which is total waste. The public money spent on this pool may be recovered from the officials who conceived the idea.
9. Solar lights may be installed at some places.
Two gardeners may be appointed for the park for maintenance.
Haji Mohammad Muzafar Thakur R/o Kralapora, Hawal, Srinagar
Nature lover. Cell number 7006717551. Email. [email protected]