Mangaluru
When the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) ignored a park that it had developed at the Valley View Layout, Guru Nagara, near Mary Hill for many years, the local residents have come forward to chalk out a plan to maintain it.
In fact, the city corporation had developed all the facilities in the park, including a children’s play area, benches, a walking track, and a drinking water facility.
However, all infrastructure remains defunct due to lack of maintenance. Hence, local residents, led by organisations, have planned to develop the one-acre park, which was set up about eight years ago when Mahabala Marla was the Mayor.
As the park is in a dilapidated condition, local residents and organisations have decided to clean and maintain the public space without waiting for the city corporation. The members of the Prithvi Charitable Trust and Joggers Park have started a weekly shramdaan programme to clean the park on Sundays.
Prithvi Charitable Trust president Lolakshi Fernandes told that the residents took a decision to volunteer for the maintenance of the park after their repeated requests were not heard by the people’s representatives. We have started cleaning the park with the help of residents. We will paint the stone benches and equipment in the children’s play area with the help of donors. Similarly, we have started planting saplings of trees that bear fruits and flowers in the park. Many residents joined hands and have been taking part in the weekly shramdaan, she said.The city corporation had provided all facilities including slide, swings, walking track and other facilities. However, weeds have grown inside the park making it difficult for people to use the facilities, she added.
