A renovation project of a park, barely two years old, has kept the patch of green away from Bahadurpur Housing Colony residents for too long.

A defunct fountain on an inundated campus amid wild undergrowth, no lights and broken benches are in no way signs of the makeover that the park is supposedly undergoing since May. What’s more, the stagnant rainwater has made it resemble a pool and an ideal breeding ground of mosquitoes, exposing residents to the risk of vector-borne diseases.

The sound of despair was evident in the voices of the colony residents fed up with the urban development department, the sole custodian of the park.

“When the park opened two years ago, we used to go to it for walks. Soon, its condition started deteriorating. The boundary wall was damaged and rainwater could not flow out because of lack of drainage. To rectify the problems, the department started renovation three months back but it is still incomplete. Why is the work going on at a snail’s pace?” said Binod Kumar, a resident of the colony.

The first contractor, assigned the renovation work, was replaced midway.

Kamlesh Kumar (35), another resident, said: “The agency carrying out the work has engaged only two labourers for the work, leading to delay. Isn’t it the department’s job to check whether the agency is carrying out the work properly or not?”

When The Telegraph asked Arvind Kumar Singh, joint secretary, urban development department, the reason for delay in the park renovation, he said: “I am not in office right now. I am not aware of any development regarding the project.”

Vijay Kumar Sinha (80), a retired employee of the building construction department, said: “When the park was open, criminals used to create nuisance owing to the absence of security guards.”

Children also feel desperate. Sagar, a Class VII student, said: “There is a board at the park which restricts playing of cricket, volleyball and football in it besides entry of pet dogs. Even if the renovation gets over, it won’t cheer us. How can this park be beneficial to us if we cannot play there?”

PARK OR POOL?

The dilapidated park of Bahadurpur Housing Colony.Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

2011: Park opened in Bahadurpur Housing Colony with no gardener or security guard to look after it. Board was put up prohibiting visitors from playing games such as cricket, volleyball and football, cycling and bringing pet dogs. Anti-social elements often entered the greens and created nuisance

May 2013: Custodian urban development department closed park to visitors and handed it over to a private contractor for renovation. Three months have passed and second private contractor has taken over the project but makeover is yet to be complete