Parks cry for maintenance in Mohali

Mohali: Parks in residential areas of Mohali have been neglected for the last several months and the situation is that even the residents started to feel the decision of maintenance of parks with Municipal Corporation does not seem to have gone well and feel it was better to be with GMADA.
Residents stated that Mohali MC is already fund-starved, civic body has the horticulture department but most of them are not technical in Horticulture where as GMADA too have a Horticulture department which has a sufficient expertise in the field of horticulture.
Residents added due to absence of proper technical staff the condition of maintenance of parks is getting bad to worst day by day.
Residents suggested, Municipal Corporation Mohali should either hire a horticulture specialist or an agency that have a horticulture specialist on panel who can advise on which trees and plants should be grown in parks and demanded guards should be hired to keep an eye on anti-social elements and securing the park property.
Residents feel teams from general Public, residents, retired people, housewives, social workers and NGOs should be roped in for the job, who may conduct regular inspections to ensure that the cleanliness and maintenance is up to the mark. Their services should be rewarded and recognised from time to time by the Municipal Commissioner, Mayor.
The mobile number of the nodal officers should be made available for general public to complain and suggest.
Residents have also written a letter to MC Commissioner stating, the upkeep and maintenance of parks is a challenging task in Mohali at present and demanded from the authorities to do much more to see cleaner parks. The old equipment in parks should be repaired and each park should have an open-air gym, and demanded regular and adequate supply of treated water to the parks.

While public parks and green belts have come under the domain of the Mohali Municipal Corporation (MC) from the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) from June 1, 2017. It is to be noted that Mohali has nearly 600 public parks and green belts.

Ms. Navjot Kaur Commissioner, MC Mohali said she will personally inspect the parks randomly and identify the reason of lapses on the part of Mohali Municipal Corporation in upkeep of parks upto the level of expectations of residents and added she had already warned the concerned officers for any lapse in the maintanance of parks.