Horticulture dept lists measures to develop Kadri Park

Horticulture Department Deputy Director H R Yogish said the department has plans to take up various development works in Kadri Park.

Speaking at a public consultation meeting at the department office in Bendoor on Monday, he said a committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of the deputy commissioner for the development of Kadri Park. Local MLA, officials from Zilla Panchayat, Mangaluru City Corporation and also general public are in the committee, he added.

"A separate food court will be set up and a parking lot will be constructed in the area. Pay parking will be introduced to prevent the haphazard parking of vehicles. An open gym will be set up in the park. A separate play area for differently abled children will be developed. The walking track is being repaired and a separate mud track is being laid near the already existing walking track. The Ganganapalla pond will be desilted. The entire park will be made eco-friendly," he explained.

He said that security personnel will be deployed in the park to prevent the destructive elements carrying out illegal activities inside the park.

Some people have also manhandled the Horticulture Department workers in the park when they asked the visitors not to litter waste, he said.

There have been complaints regarding the illegal petty shops near the entrance of the park. The Police Department has been informed about the matter, he added.

A nominal entry fee will be fixed to enter the park, he said.

Women and Child Development Department Deputy Director Sundar Poojary said that test run for the toy train has been conducted. The Department of Railways has been requested to inspect the track. The train is likely to chug again after the rainy season, he added.

Musical fountain

A sum of Rs 6 lakh has been sanctioned to the Horticulture Department for the maintenance of the musical fountain in the newly developed park (earlier Deer Park). The entrance fee has been fixed and the department has collected Rs 6 lakh so far, he said.

Grievances

The members of the public present in the meeting complained that there is no proper stormwater drain in the park and the rainwater gets accumulated in the park, creating inconvenience to people, especially the senior citizens. They also urged the department to install CCTV cameras in the park.

A senior citizen said that many solar lights in the park are defunct. Some complained about the menace of the street vendors on the venue. The street vendors have been selling liquor and illicit drugs, the complained.

They took the contractor to task for the unscientific work of the walking track in the park. Garbage has been dumped into Ganganapalla pond, they charged.