Jogger’s Park- A picture of neglect

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 5

The lackadaisical attitude of Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) came to the fore as four water reservoirs situated at Jogger’s Park have not been cleaned for months. Algae, garbage, including solid waste, and overgrown weeds can be seen around the edges of the tanks.

Moreover, residents of areas, such as Hazura Kapura colony and Balla Ram Nagar, throw garbage near the Sirhind canal that enters the water reservoirs via small water canals.

Sources said neither was there any check by MC authorities to deter the residents of these areas from throwing garbage in water reservoirs nor did they take any concrete steps to clean them. As a result, solid waste was making its way into the water reservoir (storage tanks) at Jogger’s Park. As the reservoirs not been cleaned for months, excessive algae float on the surface and overgrown weed has grown on the edges of the tanks.

In the absence of a mesh to filter hard waste from canal water before entering the water tanks, garbage, leaves and even animal excreta has been entering the storage tanks.

Notably, there are four large water tanks used for storing canal water before it is filtered and supplied to households in the city. Similarly, there are four different points at the Jogger’s Park from where canal water enters the storage tanks.

The matter was highlighted by Bathinda Tribune in the past as well but no action has been taken by the authorities concerned so far. Not only garbage, people also release leftover worship material inside the water storage tanks. Overgrown grass and bushes along and inside the water tanks also add to the prevailing unhygienic conditions. Last year, an animal’s carcass was thrown inside the water tanks, which remained in the water for days before being removed by the authorities.

Even if purified by filtration process before being supplied to the city residents, this water is an invitation to various diseases.

Moreover, the tiles installed along tracks at the park are also broken. The authorities need to repair these tiles to restore the aesthetic appeal of the park.

Mayor Balwant Rai Nath said, “I have written to the MC officials to carry out the de-silting work at the four water reservoirs situated at the Jogger’s Park. But since election code of conduct is in effect, the work would be completed after Lok Sabha elections now.”