Bengaluru: Elected representatives of the C.V. Raman Nagar constituency are in a dilemma over a 22,000 square-feet ground – they are in two minds over whether they should make it into a playground or a community park.
While over a score of residents, including senior citizens from the nearby area, are adamant about wanting a park with a walker’s track and trees to maintain the greenery, two nearby schools and several other youngsters want it as a ground.
After much deliberation, the corporator of the area finally decided to make it a playground. But this didn’t go down well with the senior citizens. The plot is a designated ‘green area’ and it can be made into a park only, they argued.
“Our colony has no parks. Senior citizens cannot walk too far. This one could provide walking tracks and trees that would add to the greenery. It is a court-ordered green space, so it should be a park” said M.S. Anand, president of LIC Colony Residential Welfare Association.
“Without a green area, how will you maintain greenery? It is a green space, it should be a park.” said Sugavanan, another resident.
The residents also fear that a playground will also attract antisocial elements. “It was an open ground for years and a den for alcoholics who would drink there. The playground will only attract more people to come and do the same thing,” said Balaji Vaidyanathan, another resident of the area.
The residents claim that the corporator is exploiting the situation, as the area is a BJP vote bank and hence the elected representatives are keen to make it a playground.
The corporator of the area, Shilpa Abhilasha, said there are 10 parks in her ward, but the children have no playground. “There is no need for a park. To get an open space of this size is difficult and there is no space for children to play. They are asking me to build them a playground.” she said.
Holy Cross School Vice-Principal Praveen agrees. “There are 10 schools nearby and two playgrounds, that too almost a kilometre away. It’s challenging for students to practice, given their schedules. This playground would be closer to the schools, just a 5 minutes walk.”
She also mentioned that the parks that already exist are not being used properly and are a hub for anti-social activities. While dissatisfaction lingers among residents, the plot is being levelled for the playground.
Who will win?
The yard located in the LIC Colony was caught in a legal wrangle. Litigation continued while the spot was used as a dumping yard for almost 20 years, when it should have been a community green space. Corporator Shilpa Abhilash said that BDA had cleaned the space themselves. “We cleared it with money from our own pockets. It was empty land before and we have cleared it to make it into a playground for the children.”
