The Times of India 07.10.2014
SMC not to levy entry fee at gardens
SURAT:
The BJP-ruled Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has rejected a proposal
that advocated levying of entry fee on people visiting municipal
gardens set up for public recreation in the city. It also deferred a
decision on increasing the tree plantation charges collected from
developers.
“The gardens are used by a number of people. Entry
fee would keep people away from coming to the gardens. These gardens
were built for them. How can we charge entry fee from people?” SMC
standing committee chairman Nirav Shah asked while announcing the
rejection of the proposal after a discussion here on Saturday.
The SMC would now try to generate extra income by creating more food
courts and selling advertisement rights in the city. The proposal was
moved by the administrative wing of the municipal corporation. It wanted
the civic body to charge fee for entry of people to Gandhi Baug,
Jyotindra Dave Udyan, Chowpathy, Floral Garden, Lakeview Garden and, Dr
Shymaparasad Mukherjee Lake Garden. At least one lakh people visit these
gardens every month. SMC officials argued that levy of entry fee would
help the civic body raise around Rs 90 lakh per annum from the visitors.
They said the SMC already charged people for entry to Ugat Botanical
Garden and Navin Florin Garden and that it should be made applicable for
other gardens too.
However, the BJP corporators were against
the proposal. On tree plantation charge, the standing committee
postponed the decision until Diwali.
