The picnic season may no longer be an eyesore in Jamshedpur.
Tata Steel subsidiary Jusco - the guardian of more than a dozen parks in the city - has decided to deploy flying squads to warn litterbugs and take repeat offenders to task.
Jusco senior general manager (Jamshedpur town operation) Dhananjay Mishra said past experiences had prompted their new strategy to protect the city's green lungs.
"Surprise inspections will be conducted to ensure plastic and food leftovers don't pollute the parks, unmonitored children don't damage flowerpots and picnickers don't cook on manicured greens," Mishra said.
There will be two flying squads, each comprising five members drawn from the horticultural, corporate communication and security wings.
"They will inspect parks and try to instil civic sense among visitors found littering the spot. People will be asked to make good use of waste bins. Those who won't listen will be asked to leave the park. Security guards will be put on watch against habitual litterbugs," Mishra added.
Apart from landmark spots such as Jubilee Park and Sir Dorabji Tata Park, Jusco also maintains Golmuri Park, Baridih Park, Kagalnagar Park, Golmuri Joggers' Park, Agrico Joggers' Park, Shastrinagar Joggers' Park, Kadma Park, Gangotri Park, Nagarkot Park, Nildih Park, Shatabdi Park, Bhuiyandih Park, Laxminagar Park and Sitaramdera Park.
Most of these green lungs boast jogging tracks, landscaped gardens, seating arrangements and children's corners, and litter left behind by picnickers inconvenience fitness buffs and the elderly who come for some fresh air.
"Although Jusco workers clean the parks daily, maintenance becomes a challenge when people don't change their habits. We will print leaflets to be distributed among picnickers. These will inform people about adverse effects of dumping plastic anywhere and how littering inconveniences others," said Mishra.
Sources in Jusco said the number of bins in parks would be increased depending on footfall, which rise in December-January in the weeks leading to Christmas and New Year, and continue till there is a nip in the air.
President of Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Suresh Sonthalia, a regular morning walker at Jubilee Park, lauded the move. "Jusco is doing a good job. Littering must stop in all parks. Hadn't civic workers been cleaning Jubilee Park after weekend gatherings, morning walk would have been difficult for us because of the stench of rotting food leftovers," he said.
Arup Das, a retired banker and resident of Contractors' Area in Bistupur, couldn't agree more. "Our group performs yoga and meditation at Jubilee Park. Bad smell breaks our concentration. Hopefully, litterbugs will soon be under control," Das said.
