In the wake of a series of complaints from the public that the Mahatma Gandhi Park here was not being maintained properly, the Shivamogga City Corporation has issued notice to the private firm that had bagged the maintenance contract.
During 2009-10, The State government had sanctioned Rs. 9 crore for the renovation of the park. Besides setting up a music fountain, pergola, walking path, pond and a playing area for children, the toy train, which was defunct for many years, was repaired. The renovated park was declared open for public in February 2013.
The Shivamogga City Corporation, after resoling to outsource the park maintenance work, floated tenders in this regard. H.K.S. Services Ltd, a Bengaluru-based private firm, had bagged the three-year maintenance contract in October 2014. The firm had agreed to pay Rs. 15.99 lakh a year as rent to the city corporation.
According to the terms of contract, the private firm should obtain permission from the committee headed by Deputy Commissioner for managing the park for revising the entry fee for using toy the train and the toilets. The firm had recently enhanced the entry fee for elders from Rs. 5 to Rs. 10 each. It was alleged that the permission of the management committee was not sought in this regard.
At a recent meeting of the city corporation, a few councillors had alleged that cleanliness was not being maintained proper in the park and a few damaged toys had not been repaired.
B.S. Yeddyurappa, Shivamogga MP, had recently expressed displeasure over the poor maintenance of the park.
A panel, comprising senior officials of the city corporation, visited the park recently to know the problems there. A.R. Ravi, commissioner of the city corporation, said that the hike in entry fee was a clear violation of contract terms and therefore, it was withdrawn.
The toys, music fountains, lights and the lawn in the park were not properly maintained.
A notice has been issued to the private firm, seeking an explanation for the poor maintenance of the park. Based on the reply, the management committee, headed by Deputy Commissioner, would take further action. If the reply is not satisfactory, then the city corporation would recommend the management committee to abolish the maintenance contract, he said.
