BANGALORE: If the ongoing development of the park in Vyalikaval playground is anything to go by, it seems that Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) authorities lack foresight. The result of this venture can be summed up as a waste of tax-payers’ money.The park is a favourite of the senior citizens and the health conscious people of Lower Palace Orchards. The park was developed around four years ago, with a budget of more than Rs 5 lakh. The BBMP made a provision for cement benches and pathways apart from providing a fence to prevent stray cattle from entering the park. The BBMP, with the active participation of Lower Orchards Residents’ Welfare Association, had even taken up planting of saplings in August last year. In their endeavour to ensure greenery, a few important members of the Lower Orchards Residents’ Welfare Association also participated in planting saplings in the presence of corporator M Vijaya Kumari, representing Rajamahal Guttahalli Ward.Now, the BBMP authorities have taken up development work at this park. The reason — the existing pathways are not wide enough for two people to walk side by side. “We got this park after struggling with the BBMP authorities for many years. We are grateful to the BBMP authorities for providing a park for us but it was not useful since the pathways are narrow,’’ says Srinivasan, one of the members of the association.It was alleged that a few lazy residents of the locality have been throwing garbage into the park. “Now we are increasing the height of the fence to prevent people from throwing garbage into the park. We have also increasing the width of the pathways for the benefit of the people who visit this park for a walk,’’ said a BBMP official.Meanwhile, a few residents are troubled by the wastage of tax-payers’ money. “What prevented the BBMP authorities to widen the pathways and increase the height of the fence when they developed the park few years ago. Now, they have to remove the existing pathways and saplings that were planted last year. It is a classic example of how the BBMP authorities waste tax-payers’ money due to their lack of foresight,’’ laments a resident on condition of anonymity.When contacted, M Vijaya Kumari, corporator, said that she was not aware of the cost of the development work. “Many people complained against the narrow pathways and heaps of garbage here. We have taken up the work only after consulting the residents,’’ said Vijaya Kumari. The corporator has no answer on the fate of the saplings planted last year.It is learnt that the BBMP has earmarked Rs 15 lakh for the development of this park. “After the completion of the work, the park will become a favourite destination for the senior citizens and the children of this area,’’ said M K Nanjaiah, assistant executive engineer, Malleswaram Division, BBMP.
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