Parks without caretakers

It seems that the decision to transfer over 100 public parks to Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) was aimed at destroying their picturesque appearance as it has been two years now that the corporation has failed to depute adequate gardeners to these public parks. It has come to the fore that the nearly a dozen of gardeners, who have been sent on deputation from Floriculture department, are presently taking care of the public parks under SMC, as the corporation have no gardener at present while the vacancies too have not been filled for the past two years to ensure proper care of these public parks. From locals to the officials, everyone is complaining of the deteriorating situation of these parks, but nobody bothers to look into the matter, leaving the local population to lurch at large. One fails to understand why the corporation is showing reluctance in dealing with the situation. The people have apprehensions that the public parks in case they continue to face official apathy will turn into safe heaven for the drug addicts. It is the high time when the concerned authorities need to take a call in this regard and fill the vacant positions of gardeners within the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) so that the public parks will once again be beautified and the locals could heave a sigh of relief. The authorities should take immediate measures to utilize the funds meant for the beautification of the parks so that the gardens are maintained again well on time.