A dispute about a South Delhi park has been reignited, with locals claiming that public funds will be used to build housing for municipal employees, while officials within the civic body cannot seem to agree with each other.
What will happen to Uday Shanker Park has sparked a debate on the importance of green spaces and community utilities. The four-acre space in Greater Kailash-II is currently being used by residents for holding religious and social gatherings. A senior citizens’ centre, constructed using MLA funds in 2000, is also operating within the park.
But, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, which is responsible for the land, is planning on making staff quarters and a recreation centre there. Residents say a bungalow for the Commissioner is also in the construction plans. This was first proposed in 2003 by the unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi, but was opposed by the local councillor and residents.
The Congress councillor from the neighbouring Chittaranjan Park, Virender Kasana, was the councillor for the area at that time. “The plan was put off till the elections by the BJP as they didn’t want to lose votes in GK-II, Alaknanda, Kalkaji and Chittaranjan Park as this is the only big park in the area for functions. Now, it appears the plan is being revived,” he said.
The civic body started cutting trees at the site on June 26 and couldn’t give residents an explanation as to why 10 trees were hacked. The residents’ welfare associations of the area then went to the National Green Tribunal to stop any construction on the site.
On Monday, the Tribunal heard the locals’ plea and ordered the civic body to maintain a status quo. The SDMC claimed it had relevant permissions from the Forest Department to cut the trees and promised to plant 100 trees.
But residents are wary of the civic body’s plans. “As per the Country and Town Planner, this land is for three pre-primary schools. But, the Education Department said no schools were needed in the area and the Horticulture Department began leasing out the park for social events over a decade ago,” explained Federation of GK-II RWAs chairperson Chetan Sharma.
Now, the Corporation is saying the residents are misusing the park. “We will be making two nine-storeyed buildings with 36 staff quarters each and obviously it will have a recreation centre for the employees. There is no proposal for a Commissioner’s bungalow,” said SDMC Commissioner Manish Gupta.
The local councillor, Sunita Gullaiya, is unresponsive towards the residents’ problem and her husband and former councillor Rakesh Gullaiya runs her office, said GK-II RWA, Ashok Bagga.
The councillor was unavailable to comment when The Hindu contacted, but Mr. Gullaiya said: “A community centre is planned in the park. The existing senior citizens’ centre will be upgraded to a 2,000 m building with a lift and state-of-the-art facilities.”
