Public parks in shambles

There was a time when the public parks within the residential localities were in a charm, but the time has passed as these spaces are now an open field for the local children where they are playing cricket and other outdoor sports. These mini-stadiums within the residential localities are not only giving tough times to the local residents only, but also putting a question mark over the developmental claims of the administration in Jammu and Kashmir. The public parks where people used to sit and spend their time, especially in the evening hours, have now become inaccessible to the elderly people as the youngsters are now playing cricket, football and other sports there, which is the outcome of the non-seriousness of the concerned as the parks are no longer being beautified while the only work that is being carried out is the grass cutting, which is being done after six to seven months now. These parks were earlier falling under the jurisdiction of Floriculture, but as soon as the decision of handing over these parks to Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) was taken, the situation turned worse since then as the corporation has no gardener, who can take care and beautify these parks. Therefore, the government should take a look over this issue and make sure that the public parks are beautified in Jammu and Kashmir. Besides, it should find ways to handover these parks to the Floriculture again.