The Vellore Corporation has turned one of its spacious parks into a dumping site. The park, which was established several years ago at Vallalar, has turned into an eyesore with the local body dumping several of its damaged garbage bins on the premises.
Known as “Ariviyal Poonga” (Science Park), the park that once brimmed with regular visitors has been in a state of neglect for the last few years, say residents of the locality. Overgrown plants, a fountain area with pool of stagnant dirty water and garbage strewn all over reflect the poor maintenance of the park.
Damaged garbage bins and waste collecting vehicles of the Corporation have been dumped on the park premises. Presently, there are at least 10 to 12 damaged bins dumped here. A number of bags carrying waste have been stocked up near the entrance of the park. In fact, sanitary workers have been using the front portion of the park to segregate waste collected from the locality.
While a number of play equipment and exercise equipment cry for maintenance, the park is littered with empty water packets and liquor bottles that show misuse of the facility. Construction debris has been dumped on one side of the park, while a small portion of the wall has been broken to gain entry.
Open toilet
“When the park was established, many residents of the locality including women and children regularly visited it. People used to take a walk every day. In fact, there used to be fishes in the pond-like structure that surrounds the fountain area. Unfortunately, the Corporation has failed to maintain the park in the last two to three years. Some passersby use the park for defecation,” said a resident of Vallalar.
Another resident said that a small portion of the park has been cleared and a few persons were playing badminton during morning hours. “If the park is maintained well, we will have a breathing space,” he said. Under self sufficiency scheme, maintenance work was taken up at the park at a cost of ₹1,50,000 during 2013-2014 as per the information displayed on the wall.
According to an official of the Vellore Corporation, the garbage bins will be removed soon, and there are plans to renovate the park. “We have already taken up works to renovate the park. We will be installing a fountain and creating a swimming pool for children,” he said. He said it was a children’s park and called as “Ariviyal Poonga” due to its proximity to the District Science Centre at Sathuvachari.
