The Hindu     11.07.2016  

DDA modifies its ‘adopt-a-park’ scheme

green parks:Adopting agencies can set-up kiosks and nurseries and put up ad space on park furniture.file photo

In a bid to provide better maintenance of its major
parks in the Capital, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has modified
its ‘Adopt a Park’ scheme, which will now allow voluntary organisations
to maintain parks in lieu of putting up ads, kiosks and nurseries.

The
DDA had first floated the scheme of adoption of parks by public trusts,
corporates, PSUs and RWAs, but had put a caveat that the entire cost of
maintaining these parks, which range in size from 1.5 acre to more than
five acres, entirely on the organisations adopting them.

The scheme, however, has now been modified to encourage more organisations to come forward.

The
DDA has now allowed the adopting agencies to adopt some practices that
will enable them to earn revenue. These include putting up eco-friendly
kiosks for selling packed healthy and nutritious food items, newspapers,
books, florist shops, flowers and plants, setting up of plant nursery
for sale of seedlings etc., apart from the right to put up
advertisements on park furniture.

“The scheme is open
to registered societies, public institutions, big business houses,
autonomous bodies, public trusts and RWAs, who can adopt a park and take
care of its maintenance. In lieu of the cost they will incur in
maintaining the parks, the adopting agencies have been allowed to put up
kiosks and other facilities, which will also serve as added attractions
for park users,” said a senior DDA official, who didn’t wish to be
named.

The rules

The DDA, however, has stipulated that the adopting agency has no rights over the park or to use the area for any other purpose.

The voluntary agency shall also prominently display that the park belongs to the DDA and it has been permitted to maintain it.

The
display board has to be put up at a specified place in the main portion
of the park. The agency will also have to ensure that no encroachments
are made in the park.

The
parks will have to be kept open to the general public and it can’t
impose any kind of entry fee. The agency also can’t organise any
concerts, shows or exhibitions at the park without the DDA’s approval.

Holding a wedding and other social functions will not be allowed at these parks.

The
DDA has also strictly stipulated that the adopting agency can’t cut any
trees or remove plants from the park, apart from any furniture already
present in the parks.

Though the voluntary agency can
erect or construct eco-friendly kiosks, plant nurseries for sale of
plants and garden products and use park furniture for branding and
publicity purposes, it can only be done with the prior permission of the
DDA.

While its earlier initiative didn’t find many
takers, the DDA hopes that the modified rules will attract organisations
to come forward and adopt a park.

Areas where parks
are up for adoption include East of Kailash, Chittaranjan Park, Rohtak
Road, Vasant Kunj, Janakpuri, Dwarka, Pitampura, Lawrence Road, Rohini,
I.P. Extension, Mayur Vihar Phase-I, Shahdara, Todapur and Narela.

Earlier, scheme didn’t find many takers as cost of maintaining parks was put entirely on adopting agencies.