A model park in the making

By Afshan Yasmeen

BANGALORE, MAY 8. The BMP is striving to make Coles Park, a landmark with historic significance, a model for other parks in the City.

Named after the former British administrator of the Cantonment area, Lord Coles, it is probably the only big park in a residential locality after Lalbagh and Cubbon Park.

The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike's (BMP) Horticulture Department, which is being criticised for not maintaining the parks under it properly, is doing a fairly better job in this case, according to those who frequent this park.

Except for the marshy area in one corner, and the wet pathway leading to the park from the other side caused by the a leak in the overhead tank of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), the park is neatly maintained.

The BWSSB has a cash counter and an overhead tank catering to the drinking water needs of the people of Bharatinagar, Frazer Town, Jayamahal and surrounding areas. But, the valves connecting the main water lines to the tank are wornout, and there is a continuous water leakage in the corner adjacent to St. Germains' High School. Ms. Padmini Pradeep Kumar Reddy, corporator, said that the repeated pleas to the BWSSB area Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) to replace the valves had gone in vain.

This apart, the cut-fruit and ``pani-puri'' vendors on the pavement surrounding the park, are creating a nuisance by throwing waste inside it. Unless the BMP initiated stringent measures against these vendors, it would be difficult to maintain cleanliness in the park, said Mr. Pradeep Kumar Reddy, former corporator.

The Coles Park, which was recently renamed as Freedom Fighters' Park, boasts of being the only BMP park that has a skating ring in it. The Coles Park Skating Club is coaching children in skating during vacations. The park also has a mini-Bal Bhavan, which conducts summer camps in painting, arts and crafts, dancing and karate for children aged up to 12.

The park is a meeting ground for freedom fighters and elders from this part of the City. Come what may, their annual meeting on August 9 is held at the band stand in the park. The band stand has a historic significance as it was used by the Army during the pre-Independence days.

The park was developed at a cost of over Rs. 20 lakhs recently. The BMP spent over Rs. 10 lakh on fencing the park with a chain link in 1997. Before the park was fenced, immoral trafficking and drug pedalling was common here, said Mr. Reddy.

The BWSSB had also allowed an STD/ISD booth inside the park near its cash counter two years ago. The booth has been cleared now and the park is protected by private security guards and the local police.

After the Kargil war, a group of retired officials residing in the area have set up grilled partitions in the park with names such as ``Madras Engineers'', ``Infantry on Tiger Hill, Kargil'' and ``Artillery in action at Kargil''. These grills showcased the bravery and courage exhibited by the soldiers during the war, Ms. Tulsi, Inspector (in-charge of Coles Park), Horticulture Department of the BMP, said.

The Coles Park Club is working with the area corporator to ensure that the park is well maintained. ``It is a herculean task to maintain this park that was established in the Twenties. We would be grateful if any private sponsors come forward to maintain it,'' said the club Secretary, Mr. S.Venkatesh.

Though the six-acre park is well illuminated, half of the area needs landscaping. The pathways have to be improved and green pastures and lawns have to be fenced. The area corporator has urged the Bangalore North MP, Mr. C.K.Jaffer Sharief, to sanction funds from his share of the MP's local area development fund to develop the park.

Mr. Reddy said that Mr. Sharief had promised to convene a meeting of the Horticulture Department shortly to sanction the required amount.

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