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The
local municipality, apparently, is contemplating to do up the decaying parks
that have not been touched by them for decades. This is particularly true of
the parks in the old city where they are subjected to neglect and apathy – even
abuse by dumping of trash in many of them.
This
was a “nawabi” town and it had, therefore, a number of gardens. It was, in
fact, known as a city of lakes and gardens. The Nawabs, as was the wont of Muslim
rulers, were fond of gardens. The Bhopal Nawabs, especially its female Nawabs –
the Begums, too were fond of gardens. They created and maintained a number of
gardens and some of the localities now are known by the names of the gardens
that were there or have since disappeared. Bagh Mugalia or Bagh Sevania are
some such examples which are now in decay. Even the ones in the centre of the
town like Qudsia Bagh and Yadgare Shahjehani too are neglected and are uncared
for. This is also true of Bagh Farhat Afza as well as Aish Bagh. The only parks
and gardens that are taken care of are the ones in New Bhopal, the main roads
No.1, 2 and 3 and the green spaces of
Char Imli maintaining which would seem to be mandatory for the
Muncipality as these are so-called VIP areas.
In
any case, the kind of incompetence it suffers from, the Municipality cannot be
expected to maintain and develop all the gardens and parks of the town.
Elsewhere people are creating parks and garden in landfills and have been able
to create a whole new ecosystem with plants, birds and other organisms. An
example is the green space created in
Kearney, New Jersey where a landfill was worked on by researchers of the Rutgers
University that has now become a places for rest and relaxation of the locals.
Having
regard to the limitations of the Municipality one would like to refrain from
loading it with additional work. One tends to feel it would suffice if the municipal
authorities plant trees, especially native ones in the gardens. The maintenance
effort on them would be minimal but the returns will be enormous in the shape
of new ecosystems. Devoid of the labour and effort of maintaining flower beds
that need change in every season the trees would not require intense effort
once they grow up but they will provide a kind of green lung to the localities
where parks are situated.
Something
of this kind has been done at the tri-junction of the VIP Road at Karbala.
There were lots of trees on the other side of the water pumping station which
have been organized into a beautiful patch of green. The undergrowth has been
cleared and a few seating spaces have been installed. Even a gazebo has been
erected with benches. The canopy overhead fends off the sun even in summer.
One supposed it did not take much of an effort
on the part of the Municipality to convert the available green area into a
place for relaxation of the people. One would like the Municipality to create
such spaces wherever possible to provide green ambience to the localities
having parks that are in decay. The available barren parks could be used for
the purpose for the benefits of health of the people. I recall that In the
conference of mayors held in San Francisco about ten years ago a resolution was adopted
towards providing parks for every individual within a kilometer of his
residence. In India, perhaps, this is a tall order. Let us, to begin with, regenerate the existing facilities in a way we can manage. Forget about
flowers; let’s have trees and more trees in the parks.
*Photo from internet
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