A broken ride at a Census Colony park near Baramunda in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, March 20: Lack of co-ordination between the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and various residents’ welfare associations has led to colony parks in the city turning into barren fields.

After carrying out a survey, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to undertake a massive maintenance drive to restore the greenery, rides and other facilities of the parks.

The civic body had set up 25 such colony parks in the city. The maintenance of these parks was supposed to be carried out jointly by the BMC and the local residents’ welfare associations. Most of these parks, built around four to five years ago, have lost their green cover. Rides for children and other facilities are in a dilapidated condition. Some have turned into barren fields and are being used as playgrounds. Parks at BDA Colony (Chandrasekharpur), Town Club (Old Town) and Rental Colony epitomise the situation.

No landscaping has been done for small colony parks in areas such as Bhimatangi and Madhusudan Nagar. A park on the premises of the BMC office also requires immediate maintenance as can be gauged from the broken flowerpots strewn all over it. The civic body feels that the poor state of the parks is because residents’ welfare associations did not to spend on maintenance.

“We found out that most of the residents’ welfare associations have failed to maintain the parks properly. So, we have decided to carry out maintenance on our own. A survey of all the parks has been carried out and an estimate is being prepared,” said BMC environment officer B.K. Routray.

The residents’ welfare associations, however, blame the civic body for not co-ordinating with them to maintain the parks.

“The corporation has failed to co-ordinate with the various residents’ welfare associations, which has led to poor maintenance of the parks. The civic body must take up the maintenance work otherwise the parks will turn into barren fields,” said general secretary of the Confederation of Citizens’ Associations Subhranshu Sekhar Rath.

“The corporation must look after the parks. The civic body is emphasising on city beautification. The smaller parks too should be part of this beautification drive,” said councillor of ward No. 49 Amaresh Jena.