Goregaon garden loses lush cover to BMC apathy ………..Sukhada Tatke
Mumbai: Every day, 68-year-old K L Agarwal and his group of cronies go out for a morning walk in the garden outside their housing complex in Goregaon (E), after which they sit together in a corner, discussing the latest news and watching the sky change its colour in the morning sun.
Over 1,000 residents of Vasant Valley next to the Dindoshi bus depot were happy when their developer set up a two-acre garden in their vicinity about 10 years ago. A manicured lawn was lined with several species of trees, a jogging track was
built and fancy lights were installed. However, over the years, all the green has withered away and no one seems to be interested in rejuvenating it.
built and fancy lights were installed. However, over the years, all the green has withered away and no one seems to be interested in rejuvenating it.
For the past four years, residents of the area still visit the same garden every morning—having no other option—but the place is no longer as green as it used to be; rather it’s a gloomier version of its earlier self.
Residents allege that the BMC—to whom the developer handed over the park reserved as a recreation ground—has done nothing to preserve its charm. Instead of maintaining it, the civic body has allowed it to slip into an abysmal condition. “It all began four years ago when the BMC became in charge of the garden. Within the first few months, the electricity and water supply was stopped. When we went to the root of the matter, we found that the civic body had not paid its dues,’’ said Agarwal, who then pursued the matter with civic authorities, but in vain. “With no water, the trees started wilting, with several dying and the lawn was completely destroyed.’’
The fact that the civic body had done nothing to ensure safety inside the garden only added to the problems. “There are no security guards as a result of which anti-social elements come to the garden. There are drug peddlers at night. The gate has been taken off its hinges and the lamp posts have gone missing’’ said R Chirania (67).
The senior citizens of the housing society finally got together and chipped in for a collection with which they plan to maintain their garden. “Though it is actually the BMC’s duty, we are ready to spend money from our own pocket to take care of the garden. But the civic body is not even giving it to us on an adoption basis. How can we allow the garden to degenerate in this manner in front of our eyes?’’ said Chirania.
Each time people went to the authorities with their woes, they were told that the BMC would take care of the garden. TOI was told the same thing. “The garden is in our possession and we have been maintaining it. If residents have any complaints, we will address them,’’ said R N Yadav, superintendent of gardens in the area. Asked why the BMC had not paid bills and neglected the maintenance of the garden, he said “nothing like that has happened’’.
YEARS OF NEGLECT: Residents say their complaints to the civic body have fallen on deaf ears