Concerned over the fast deteriorating condition of Chaudhary Devi Lal Park and its shoddy upkeep, Gurgaon residents want to take over its maintenance from the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA). It owns the park spread across 30 acres in Sector 22.
The park was inaugurated 17 years ago and residents from near and far frequent it for a breath of fresh air. Over the past 9 years or so, the periphery wall of the park has broken. Moreover, the walkways have crumbled and the park had become a den of miscreants and vagabonds who cause nuisance for the residents.
Malkhan Singh, 67, a resident of Sector 23-A, said, “Our effort to get HUDA to stop the entry of unscrupulous elements to the park have failed. Hence we have now appealed to HUDA to hand over the park to the residents’welfare association (RWA).”
The park was inaugurated by former Haryana Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala way back in 2001. It used to be the largest green space in the city, catering to various HUDA sectors and hundreds of other localities.
Bhawani Shankar Tripathy, a resident of Sector 23-A, said, “It was a beautiful green space till 2009-10, but has since lost its sheen. Now it is a place for young lovers, drug addicts and local boys. However, these people can’t be blamed for the present state of the park as it is HUDA’s job to ensure proper maintenance.”
Since the peripheral boundary wall is broken at places, stray animals enter the park and damage plants and grass. The perforated tiles of pathways are damaged causing inconvenience to the elderly. The fountains are defunct and are of no use in summer.
“HUDA hardly plants new saplings. While a minimum of 20-25 gardeners are required to maintain the greenery at the park, the authority has assigned less than 10. Civil, electrical and horticulture works leave a lot to be desired,” said Bhim Singh Yadav, a resident of Sector 22.
Residents said that the HUDA’s horticulture department has been spending Rs 1.5 lakh a month on maintenance of the park.
“All this money goes waste. I have RTI replies that show that it spends a good amount on maintenance, but there’s little to show for all the money that goes into maintaining the park,” said Aseem Takyar, a resident of Sector 23.
In 2013, HUDA’s horticulture department had planned landscaping of the park in order to improve its aesthetic beauty and develop it as a model park at a cost of Rs 3 crore.
Latika Thakral, co-founder, I am Gurgaon, which maintains the biodiversity park at DLF 3 in the Aravallis, said, “HUDA should plan for corporate funding, as it is the only way to make it a model park. It should invite green activists, horticulture experts to ensure proper upkeep. This park is falling into disrepair for want of funds.”
Naresh Pawar, additional chief engineer, HUDA, Haryana, said, “The idea of handing over park to the RWAs or arrange corporate funding is a good one and we will take it up with the appropriate authority.”