Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - HT Navi Mumbai Live
Cidco, PCMC blame each other for not opening park
KHARGHAR: Residents of Kharghar have demanded that the Panvel City Municipal Corporation (PCMC) opens the Central Park for the residents.
Central Park in Kharghar is one of the biggest gardens in Navi Mumbai and Mumbai.
People, who have been at home for many months since the lockdown can walk, exercise or meditate there by following social distancing.
Most senior citizens are not comfortable walking on roads due to heavy vehicular traffic. The park, on the other hand, has all the facilities including seating arrangements and toilets among others.
Vikas Kulkarni, a 72-year-old retired engineer and a resident of Sector 20 who went to the park regularly for a walk before the lockdown, said, “Walking on the road is unsafe as we are worried about rash drivers and chain snatchers. Moreover, it is safe to walk in a garden where there are people around, in case any medical emergency arises. Many senior citizens are diabetic. They need a washroom too during their walks.”
Another resident, Vikas Bhamre, 54, from Sector 19 in
Kharghar, expressed the opening of the garden was very important for fitness. “To fight against the disease, we have to be fit. Walking or exercising in open air will only boost our health. We don’t prefer walking on roads that are already congested and unsafe,” he said.
Following the demands of the residents, local BJP corporator Netra Kiran Patil wrote a letter to the municipal commissioner of PCMC. “We started receiving requests from local residents to open the Central Park for morning walkers and children to play. The authorities have allowed the opening of malls and hotels. Why have they kept the garden closed? Being one of the biggest gardens, social distancing will be followed properly,” she added.
The PCMC and Cidco, however, are pushing the blame on each other.
Vitthal Dake, deputy municipal commissioner, PCMC, said, “The garden is maintained by Cidco and is merely in our jurisdiction. We have sent them the guidelines and approval by the state government, still they have not yet opened it.”
A Cidco official, on the other hand, blamed the PCMC, saying, “We are ready to open the garden but are awaiting permission from the local body, the PCMC.”