‘It used to be cleaner and more orderly’
Say patrons of the Mulund garden after the BMC took over its custody.
Lala Tulsiram Udyan, a haven for children and seniors alike, has ample green cover and a separate play area. Originally developed and maintained by a trust, the garden is now in the BMC’s care and many residents grudge this fact; they claim the overall tidiness and management have taken a hit after the civic body took over. But people from the locality still adore the space. They said it is ideal for spending evenings. The only downside is it is open for no more than 10 hours a day.
A month ago BMC took back control and contracted its maintenance to a private company, which is now tending to it.
The garden has a single plaque at one of the two entrances declaring the property as belonging to BMC. A memorial bust inside the garden talks about the Jain Trust that used to run the park.
According to BMC rules, however, there should be two signboards right at the entrance mentioning the BMC as well as the caretaker’s name. They are also required to display the timings, which was nowhere to be seen in this case.
Access
Everybody’s welcome free of cost: there isn’t an entry fee. The two garden gates open on to the main roads so reaching it is easy. While the elders occupy the benches to read newspapers or meet up, children tend to keep to the play area.
But the park is open only a few hours a day, falling short of the 15-hour duration laid down by the BMC for its open spaces. “It opens at 5:00 in the morning and closes around 11:30 for the afternoon, reopening at 5:00 in the evening till 8:00 in the night,” said the security guard Ram Murat Sharma.
Installations
The ground is level and one can even walk barefoot on the regularly cleaned walkways. The park is well maintained and a hedge separates it from the play area. At the time Mirror visited the trees and shrubs were pruned and the premises were being tidied. “We clean it at least thrice a day so nobody complains of dust or mulch,” said Lakshmi, one of the cleaning ladies.
The foam-coated play area, with a slide, several swings and a ‘junglegym’ for kids to climb, is safe for children. Right next to it is the sand pit where there are more swings and jungle-gyms.
There is a log cabin for the watchman but he prefers to sit outside. The toilets are near one entrance and the drinking water station is near the other. Both appear clean and hygienic. The construction is well within the 10 per cent rule for open spaces.
‘Nobody cares for rules’
The garden is used by people in the neighbourhood as a resting place. Some come to jog, others to play; the seniors are regulars. Ramesh Binde, 83, a resident of Mulund all his life, said he has been visiting the park for 20 years now. And since his retirement, he has been spending a few hours here every evening. “Earlier, when the trust was handling the management, there were strict rules. Kids couldn’t play cricket over the green cover. Couples playing hooky weren’t allowed. But since the BMC has taken over, everyone can walk in and do as they please,” he said.
Kamlesh Thakkar, a septuagenarian, is a park patron for the past seven years. “BMC is in charge now but nothing good can come of it. The rules aren’t being followed and cleanliness is not as good. Though it is better than most,” he observed.
Local corporator Prakash Gangadhare was unavailable for comment.
Will extend hours soon: BMC
The city authorities dispelled the pessimism about the garden falling in the BMC’s care. An official at T ward, where the garden falls, told Mirror after requesting anonymity, “It is a garden we are proud of and have vowed to maintain. It was taken back from the trust as it was mandated by the state government.”
He added, “There are certain issues like shortened open hours. But we are working towards easing that. There are logistic and security reasons involved and we will correct that.”
You can do your own open space audit. For help, contact Mumbai Mirror’s Chaitanya Marpakwar at chaitanya.marpakwar@timesgroup.com
Lala Tulsiram Udyan, a haven for children and seniors alike, has ample green cover and a separate play area. Originally developed and maintained by a trust, the garden is now in the BMC’s care and many residents grudge this fact; they claim the overall tidiness and management have taken a hit after the civic body took over. But people from the locality still adore the space. They said it is ideal for spending evenings. The only downside is it is open for no more than 10 hours a day.
A month ago BMC took back control and contracted its maintenance to a private company, which is now tending to it.
Signage
The garden has a single plaque at one of the two entrances declaring the property as belonging to BMC. A memorial bust inside the garden talks about the Jain Trust that used to run the park.
According to BMC rules, however, there should be two signboards right at the entrance mentioning the BMC as well as the caretaker’s name. They are also required to display the timings, which was nowhere to be seen in this case.
Access
Everybody’s welcome free of cost: there isn’t an entry fee. The two garden gates open on to the main roads so reaching it is easy. While the elders occupy the benches to read newspapers or meet up, children tend to keep to the play area.
But the park is open only a few hours a day, falling short of the 15-hour duration laid down by the BMC for its open spaces. “It opens at 5:00 in the morning and closes around 11:30 for the afternoon, reopening at 5:00 in the evening till 8:00 in the night,” said the security guard Ram Murat Sharma.
Installations
The ground is level and one can even walk barefoot on the regularly cleaned walkways. The park is well maintained and a hedge separates it from the play area. At the time Mirror visited the trees and shrubs were pruned and the premises were being tidied. “We clean it at least thrice a day so nobody complains of dust or mulch,” said Lakshmi, one of the cleaning ladies.
The foam-coated play area, with a slide, several swings and a ‘junglegym’ for kids to climb, is safe for children. Right next to it is the sand pit where there are more swings and jungle-gyms.
There is a log cabin for the watchman but he prefers to sit outside. The toilets are near one entrance and the drinking water station is near the other. Both appear clean and hygienic. The construction is well within the 10 per cent rule for open spaces.
‘Nobody cares for rules’
The garden is used by people in the neighbourhood as a resting place. Some come to jog, others to play; the seniors are regulars. Ramesh Binde, 83, a resident of Mulund all his life, said he has been visiting the park for 20 years now. And since his retirement, he has been spending a few hours here every evening. “Earlier, when the trust was handling the management, there were strict rules. Kids couldn’t play cricket over the green cover. Couples playing hooky weren’t allowed. But since the BMC has taken over, everyone can walk in and do as they please,” he said.
Kamlesh Thakkar, a septuagenarian, is a park patron for the past seven years. “BMC is in charge now but nothing good can come of it. The rules aren’t being followed and cleanliness is not as good. Though it is better than most,” he observed.
Local corporator Prakash Gangadhare was unavailable for comment.
Will extend hours soon: BMC
The city authorities dispelled the pessimism about the garden falling in the BMC’s care. An official at T ward, where the garden falls, told Mirror after requesting anonymity, “It is a garden we are proud of and have vowed to maintain. It was taken back from the trust as it was mandated by the state government.”
He added, “There are certain issues like shortened open hours. But we are working towards easing that. There are logistic and security reasons involved and we will correct that.”
You can do your own open space audit. For help, contact Mumbai Mirror’s Chaitanya Marpakwar at chaitanya.marpakwar@timesgroup.com
