Public parks transferred to SMC 2 years back in shambles

12 gardeners on deputation from Floriculture deptt taking care of gardens, locals aghast; Dy Mayor admits dearth of gardeners

Srinagar, Sep 12 : Majority of the public parks transferred from floriculture department to Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) nearly two years ago, are in shambles as the corporation faces dearth of gardeners, leaving the local populace to lurch at large.

Sources privy to the development told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that 12 garners were sent on deputation from the floriculture department to SMC soon after the government ordered transfer of nearly 140 public parks in Srinagar to the corporation.

“The gardeners were sent on deputation in a bid to train the gardeners from SMC. However, all the gardeners of SMC have got superannuation and since then no recruitment has been done in this regard to fill vacancies,” sources said.

They said that the 12 gardeners on deputation are presently taking care of some of the gardens as it is impossible for them to manage the work at nearly 140 parks.

The local populace, however, said that the beautification of the public parks have gone for a toss as there is hardly any public park which has been beautified in the past two years.

Deputy Mayor, SMC, Parvaiz Qadri when contacted, told KNO that there is dearth of gardeners as the vacancies after the superannuation of previous caretakers. “There is a need to utilize the funds meant for the gardens. The funds are not being used. Besides, the meagre number of gardeners is not able to beautify the gardens properly,” he said—(KNO)