PUNE: The
Pune Municipal Corporation (
PMC) has decided to keep
civic gardens across the city closed on December 31. The decision has been taken to avoid crowding ahead of
New Year’s Eve.
“The decision has been taken to avoid spread of virus. People may come to gardens in large numbers to celebrate the New Year. As a
precautionary measure, we have decided to keep the garden premises closed,” said a senior PMC official.
The civic administration had opened gardens to the public on November 1. Gardens remained closed for so long even after the Unlock process was announce because many children and senior citizens, both in the high-risk category for
Covid-19, were using them. Therefore, as a precautionary measure the decision was taken to keep the gardens closed in the third week of June.
As per officials, the PMC had started gardens during the Unlock period but it led to crowding. Many citizens crowded on the jogging tracks and open gyms. If the gardens had remained open, there was a higher risk of the spread of
coronavirus, so they were shut temporarily.
Moreover, factors like the heavy rainfall were also considered while keeping the public gardens closed.