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Fund crunch hits parks’ beautification
The VMC has sent proposals to the State government to sanction Pushkaraalu grant for the development of parks in the city. More than 90 per cent parks in the city are in the state of neglect without development and greenery due to fund crunch and negligence of VMC.
Vijayawada: The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) is eagerly waiting for the release of Pushkaraalu grants from the State government for the development of parks in the city. The State government has recently released the grant for the development of the roads in the city.
The VMC has sent proposals to the State government to sanction Pushkaraalu grant for the development of parks in the city. More than 90 per cent parks in the city are in the state of neglect without development and greenery due to fund crunch and negligence of VMC. The civic body maintains 130 parks in three circles in the city.
Out of which, only three parks Raghavaiah Park, Rajiv Gandhi Park and K L Rao Park are commercial parks which collect entry free from the public. Both commercial and non-commercial parks in the city have no use to the public due to poor maintenance.
The VMC is not allocating sufficient funds for the maintenance and development of these parks. In the draft budget prepared for 2016-17, the VMC has allocated only Rs 20 lakh for parks and plantation under capital expenditure. During the previous financial year 2015-16, the VMC allocated Rs 50 lakh and later reduced to Rs 20 lakh.
For the construction of new parks, the VMC allocated Rs 2.35 crore in 2015-16 and reduced to Rs 63 lakh in the same year due to various reasons. Similarly, the VMC has allocated Rs 1.75 crore for the construction of new parks in 2016-17 draft budget. But, it is not known how much the VMC will spend for the construction of new parks.
Keeping in view the Pushkaraalu, which is slated for August, 2016, the VMC is asking the State government to allocate grants for the development of parks. Proposals have been sent to the State for the release of Rs 37 crore grant for the development of parks in the city.
The VMC owns and maintains 130 parks in the city. The civic body has identified 78 new locations for the development of parks and to develop greenery in the city. The horticulture wing of the VMC needs Rs 9 crore to develop greenery and plantation in 200 odd parks, which include both 130 old and new identified parks.
The engineering wing of the VMC needs Rs 28 crore to develop the infrastructure and install new toys in the parks. The officials are gearing up to develop the new parks on a war-footing basis before Pushkaraalu as lakhs of people will visit the city for the mega event.
Assistant director of horticulture G P Anand told The Hans India that the VMC is waiting for the release of grants from the State government to develop the parks in the city. He said proposals have been already sent to the government. He said the VMC is preparing for the beautification of canal bunds. The government is conducting a survey along the canal bunds to take up beautification work on a massive scale in the city.
