Public recreational parks in a sorry state

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, November 30

The public famous places-Balaju Bais (22) Dhara Park, Ratna Park and Ranipokhari are in a sorry state owing to the inefficient management of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

According to the KMC, the government transferred Balaju 22 Dhara Park, Ratna Park, Ranipokhari and National Assembly Hall to the civic body in 2002. However, all of them except the National Assembly Hall at Bhrikutimandap are wretched lots due to the lack of proper management, said the KMC officials. "They were in a better condition before the transfer of the authority," they said.

Balaju 22 Dhara Park spread in 159 ropanies of land, the only biggest recreation centre in the Kathmandu valley, and Ratna Park are in a shameful and pathetic condition, said Nama Raj Dhakal, senior finance officer at the KMC. "Balaju Park is dilapidated, worn Ratna Park has turned into centre of indecent activities while Rani Pokhari is no more than the dirty pond," said Dhakal.

Balaju Park houses with a swimming pool, 22 water tapes, a Hindu temple, greenery park and open spaces. The condition of park got worsened as the walls of upper parts were broken by the cadres of Constituent Assembly member Hisila Yami during the CA election campaign. The compound walls of Balaju Park are damaged, water pond is filthy, pool is not modernized, water is irregular in taps and trees are dying out, said Dhakal.

There is dire negligence of the metropolitan city towards the recreational spots, said Deepak KC, an officer at the Public Private Partnership for Urban Environment section in the civic body. "The KMC tried to adopt PPP modality but to no avail," he added.

Dhakal said that the KMC called a bid to involve the private sector in the management of the Balaju Park in 2005. "However, it is still paralysed. Neither KMC could sign agreement with the bidder nor it could renovate the park by allocating sufficient budget," he said.

The Side Walker Pvt Ltd, which was coincidentally given the bid to manage Bhmsen Tower, was selected in the procurement of bid on Rs 52,000 per month for 20 years. "The agreement could not be signed due to the locals protest and inefficiency of administration despite permission from the Ministry of Local Development," said Dhakal.

About Rs 4 million is spent annually as operating cost of the park. Entry fee is only Rs 5.00 per person. However, it is hardly able to maintain even its regular expenses. "We can earn at least Rs 100 million every year if the existing amenities are renovated," said Dhakal. "If we invest more on its development, the earning can multiply," he said. "We need to go ahead with a master plan."

Admitting lapses for the management, Deepak Koirala, assistant executive chief at the KMC, said that there was a vested game in tender process and that failed. "There are many causes of this problem. But the void of elected representatives in the body has badly marred on the decisive management," he added.