With most of the parks in Mohali having little to boast about in terms of maintenance and development, the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) is all set to undertake the task of revamping the parks in the city.On Friday, GMADA floated tenders inviting bids from the enlisted civil/public health/ horticulture agencies for the development of parks in 12 different sectors in Mohali.An estimated cost of nearly Rs 75 lakh was earmarked for the development work of parks in Sectors 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 68, 69, 71, 65, 66, 61 and 70.Tenders will be received till October 7 and the allotted work will have to be completed within 3 months from the date of allotment, according to GMADA Divisional Engineer (Horticulture).Municipal Councillor Kuljit Singh Bedi urged the GMADA to complete the development of all parks before handing them over to the Mohali Municipal Council, which will later be responsible for their future maintenance and upkeep.The ‘failed experiment’ In January, earlier this year, the GMADA had failed to receive even a single bid for the tenders floated for the development of the 558 parks in Mohali.Following the failure, the GMADA had offered 481 parks, which were spread over in less than 1 acre area, to the public for development. The public representatives were informed that the GMADA intended to transfer all the parks/green belts/ open spaces having area less than 1 acre to various residents’ welfare associations for development and further maintenance for which a one time development cost and monthly maintenance cost would be paid by the GMADA as per its established norms and estimates. GMADA officials had reasoned that although these parks were being developed and maintained for public use by the GMADA with their best efforts, it received more of criticism than appreciation. GMADA had offered the residents to develop and maintain the parks as per their requirements to increase public participation which was observed to be less in the past.GMADA had decided to transfer these parks to a core group of the respective Sector involving the area municipal councillor or representatives of the Residents’ Welfare Association as members or to the neighbourhood committees of residents living near the parks. The one-time fund required for carrying out development works as per the norms and estimate of the GMADA were offered to such core groups or neighborhood committees. The GMADA officials suggested that the public caretakers would get the work done pertaining to development of the parks and thereafter maintain it by engaging the required gardeners and other staff. The GMADA will provide funds on a monthly or quarterly basis for further maintenance till these parks, green belts and open spaces were further handed over to the local municipal council for permanent maintenance.
