DDA, civic agencies rapped for poor upkeep of children’s parks

Unhappy with reports filed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and civic bodies regarding upkeep of children’s parks in the capital, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday said the agencies were “not doing anything” on the issue. “Is there any other person working in this field (on how to maintain the park)? You need to […]

The Bench had taken cognizance of a letter written by a Supreme Court judge pointing out the poor state of parks (Source: Express Archives)

Unhappy with reports filed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and civic bodies regarding upkeep of children’s parks in the capital, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday said the agencies were “not doing anything” on the issue.

“Is there any other person working in this field (on how to maintain the park)? You need to include someone else…We will pass an order with certain directions that they (civic bodies) can comply with,” the court of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw said.
The court expressed its annoyance after amicus curiae and senior advocate Nidhesh Gupta said that the measures taken by the civic agencies to allow sale of flowers, food, etc., in public parks was “only to make money”.

The DDA and the MCDs, in their reports, had informed the court that the government had decided to allow parks to be “adopted” by corporates and residents welfare associations to ensure their upkeep.

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Gupta, however, said the measures were depriving children of spaces to play. He also said the deficiencies pointed out in earlier reports had not yet been rectified by the civic bodies.

The court has now directed the government to “make a new policy” to improve the status of public parks. It also asked that a compliance report be filed, showing that deficiencies in the maintenance and upkeep of the parks have been rectified.

The court had taken suo motu cognizance of a letter written by Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph, highlighting the poor state of the parks. It had issued notices to the civic agencies, PWD and the Delhi Cantonment Board.

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