The Times of India 03.12.2010
Park maintenance grants’ revision unfair: PMCs
LUDHIANA: The park management committees (PMCs) are crying foul over the revision of maintenance grants for parks. Their members alleged that the revision has not been done uniformly and that it would discourage people from developing parks.
For long, they had been demanding revision of maintenance charges given by the municipal corporation. In view of it, the authorities had forwarded a letter to the state government for implementing it.
The state government has approved the revision of rates, but these are “not uniform”. The authorities will pay Rs 1.50 per square yard for parks up to 4,000 square yards, while for those above 4,000 square yards, Re 1 per square yard will be given. So, it has left PMCs developing bigger parks high and dry.
Now, a request letter has been submitted to the commissioner of municipal corporation by SS Chana, president of Federation of Pollution and Park Management Committees, for ensuring a “uniform pattern”.
There are around 400 PMCs in the city. There are 92 parks with area up to 500 square meter, 105 with 500 to 1,000 square meter, 139 with 1,000 to 2,000 square meters, 72 with 2,000 to 3,000 square meter, 43 have area between 3,000 and 4,000 sq mt, 14 have 4,000 to 5,000 square meters and the rest have above 5,000 square metre.
Chana said though the rates’ revision was a welcome step, there has been “discrimination with 14 PMCs” that were developing parks above 4,000 square yards. He has brought the matter to the notice of MC commissioner and sought that Rs 6,000 for all PMCs should be fixed.
MC commissioner AK Sinha said he has been apprised of the matter. “I will look into it,” he added.
Out of over 400 park management committees in the city, about 235 are actively working and maintaining green belts.
For long, they had been demanding revision of maintenance charges given by the municipal corporation. In view of it, the authorities had forwarded a letter to the state government for implementing it.
The state government has approved the revision of rates, but these are “not uniform”. The authorities will pay Rs 1.50 per square yard for parks up to 4,000 square yards, while for those above 4,000 square yards, Re 1 per square yard will be given. So, it has left PMCs developing bigger parks high and dry.
Now, a request letter has been submitted to the commissioner of municipal corporation by SS Chana, president of Federation of Pollution and Park Management Committees, for ensuring a “uniform pattern”.
There are around 400 PMCs in the city. There are 92 parks with area up to 500 square meter, 105 with 500 to 1,000 square meter, 139 with 1,000 to 2,000 square meters, 72 with 2,000 to 3,000 square meter, 43 have area between 3,000 and 4,000 sq mt, 14 have 4,000 to 5,000 square meters and the rest have above 5,000 square metre.
Chana said though the rates’ revision was a welcome step, there has been “discrimination with 14 PMCs” that were developing parks above 4,000 square yards. He has brought the matter to the notice of MC commissioner and sought that Rs 6,000 for all PMCs should be fixed.
MC commissioner AK Sinha said he has been apprised of the matter. “I will look into it,” he added.
Out of over 400 park management committees in the city, about 235 are actively working and maintaining green belts.
