GMDA releases rores for parks’ construction

Several parks below par in comparison to fund allotted

GUWAHATI, March 11: The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) from 2008-2013 has spent Rs 111879000 simply for the construction and development of several parks of Guwahati. But even after such huge amount of funding, the conditions of most of these parks still remain pathetic.

The GMDA from 2008 to 2011 sanctioned Rs 7.5 lakhs for developing a park in the Zoo Road area, but in reality no developmental signs can be witnessed in the said park. Similar is the condition of another park situated at Guwahati’s Nabin Nagar area, to which the GMDA had sanctioned Rs 10 lakh during the 2009-2011 period.

Similarly, the GMDA had sanctioned Rs 14 lakhs to a Kharghuli based park, Rs 4.6 lakhs to a park based in Ananda nagar, and Rs 90 lakhs to a ‘theme park’ situated in North Guwahati. But there is still much to be desired on the final output of these mammoth investments.

If funding parks was not enough, the GMDA had also spent a lot of money in the name of renovation.

The GMDA, in 2008 began the construction of Shraddhanjali Kanon, opposite State Zoo, with a budget of Rs 1.99 crores. The park was finally completed in 2010, but a year later on 2011, the GMDA again sanctioned rs 1.40 crores for its renovation.

Not only Shraddhanjali Kanon, but the Nehru Park (opposite Cotton College) is another park to which the GMDA has sanctioned mammoth funds just for the sake of renovation and reconstruction.

The GMDA has also washed away Rs 3.22 lakh in the river Brahmaputra on the name of Brahmaputra Rope-way Project, which now has been completely defunct.

During the pillar construction for the project, construction work had to be stalled when a pillar constructed in the mid of Brahmaputra slanted towards the side. And then the ASI even did not give permission to construct a pillar at the Umananda Island.

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