Plants dying slow death at Joggers’ Park

Sameer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 5

Hundreds of plants have wilted and some of them are dying a slow death after not being watered for months at Joggers’ Park. Leaves of smalls have been shorn and dry twigs paint a picture of neglect by the Municipal Corporation authorities.

Notably, as part of the beautification process, a large number of plants were grown at Joggers’ Park. The plants grown along three lakes at the park were looked after well, but those sown near the fourth lake were neglected completely. As a result, these plants (approximately more than one thousand) have withered and some of them have died over a period of one year.

Sources said there were no arrangements for watering the plants. Initially, after being grown, the authorities watered plants by fetching water from the lake, but thereafter, these plants were left on their own.

The sources added that there was a submersible pump installed near the lake area, but it was never made functional by the authorities concerned for the reasons best known to them.

Moreover, the MC officials concerned were informed about the deteriorating condition and death of plants a number of times, but they did not take any action in this regard, they said.

Some plants have not been watered for three to four months, while others did not get water for over a year now.

Jashanpreet Singh, a frequent visitor to Joggers’ Park, said, “On the one hand the state government has launched Mission Tandarust Punjab under which the district administration carries out plantation drives to provide a pollution-free environment, while on the other, thousands of grown plants have wilted in the park.”

Another visitor Lovepreet Kaur, said, “What is the use of sowing plants if you cannot grow them properly. By showing sheer disregard for the upkeep of hundreds of plants at the park, the authorities concerned have proved that plantation drives are merely photo-ops that are done to grab media headlines while the ground reality tells altogether a different tale.”

Raman Kumar, SDO, civic body’s B&R wing, said, “We ensure that plants grown in Joggers’ Park are watered properly. I will get it checked if these are not watered now. I will take necessary action in the matter.”

A horticulture expert in the city said water was really essential for the existence of plants. “Water does not only assist plants to prevent their cells from drying out, it is more essential nutrients for their systems and areas where photosynthesis (food creation by plants) and seed production take place,” he added.

He said the first visible signs of water stress are wilting of plant and reduced photosynthesis and respiration activity, which if left unattended subsequently, leads to their death.

Mayor Balwant Rai Nath, said, “The contract term of a majority of the staff members, who were appointed at the Joggers’ Park, has expired. So, we have forwarded a request to the state government for the renewal of their contract. Moreover, we will also ensure that dead plants are replaced with the new plants.”