Col Kulbhushan Gupta
On 14 March 2023, I saw headlines in this newspaper ‘FM presents Rs 1.18 lakh Cr Budget for UT; 35 PC expenditure on development, infra projects”. I scanned through the paper looking for allocation of funds for Higher Education, Libraries, and Development of parks. I found nothing. I again went through each and every headline of allocation of funds highlights given in the side box but found nothing. Then I thought, since I had been stuck in the USA for almost three years due to Covid ,a lot of progress may have taken place in the development of libraries and parks in the city. In my heart I appreciated the work of the Smart City development authority.To confirm,I decided about going and seeing for myself the developments made. First I went to Ranabir Singh Library, Kachi Chawni .
Ranbir Singh Library.
I moved to Jammu from Akhnoor in 1965 when Akhnoor was vacated due to the Indo-Pak war.That time I was studying in 8th standard. I joined Ranbir Singh Higher Secondary School .My route from home to school passed via Ranbir Singh Library. After school hours ,I used to spend time in the Ranbir Singh Library,reading newspapers,magazines and borrowing books. The library was immaculately laid out with each almirah designated to a different section.The books were neat and clean. There were lots of books covering every field. I really loved being in the library.And that remained my passion till I joined GGM Science college in 1969 . Today,when I entered the library gate,I saw in the front building big board -Deputy Director Libraries and Reading Room.On the left building was, Library on the ground floor and first floor having, Director of Libraries and Research,. Great,I thought so well organised. I went inside the library. I was shocked to see the same old books almirahs.Their number had drastically reduced. Same old books but with torn and dusty covers. I asked the librarian ,there used to be a lot of books ,divided into different sections,each section prominently marked. All that has changed .I find No New Books,why is it so?. His answer was, “it has been the same since the time I came here”. I asked about the procedure for membership? He gave a form and said it has to be attested by a Gazetted Officer. I asked what if one had been a class 1 Gazetted officer himself.He said ,”if you are serving then fine.If you are retired then you have to get signatures of a serving officer”. I suddenly realised that my 33 years of service as class 1 Gazetted officer was not good enough to get me membership of the only library in the smart city. I thought ,if this was to be the condition of only Public library in the Smart City then why waste money on having Director and Deputy Director offices.It would be better we spend the money spent on them on the upkeep of library under a librarian.It is shameful that only Public library in the city is in such a poor state and we don’t allot any funds for bringing up the library and adding more libraries in the city.However,the reading room was well equipped and occupied to full capacity. From there I went to Rajinder Park canal in Jammu.
Rajinder Park,Canal Jammu
In 1965 ,when we moved to Jammu,the park was in great shape.Every Sunday we would pack up our meals and go for a picnic there.It was very well maintained. This improved further in the years to come when it was maintained by Jammu and Kashmir Bank.I would say it was pre-Covid period when park was at its best.They had added Musical Fountain to the park.Every Sunday and on holidays park used to be full of people enjoying picnics with the family. I was aghast to see the present situation of the park.It is more of a dumping ground than park.The musical fountain,the cafeteria,the toilets,the flower beds all are Dead. A structure, I don’t know what for, which started coming before Covid is in a deserted state. There are no flowers in the park.No place to sit down and have picnics. Dried flower beds crying for water, perhaps praying for rain God to come to their rescue.I was told the park has been taken over by Department of Floriculture. I wonder ,if ever, the Director /who so ever is the head of the department has ever visited the park.It is a shame on the department,total shame . Somebody higher up should wake up the head of the department and ask him to get the park in the right shape.Lot of people come for morning walks there.They deserve a better place ,not a deserted place. Next to the Musical Fountain,I read a plate Inaugurated by His Excellency,Governor…………I request our present Lt Governor to kindly plan re-inauguration of the Musical Fountain so that it and the park get a new lease of life.
Then I wondered what our department of Smart City is doing for the city to be smart. So far I could see the following visible works;-
* Painting/ Decorating of City Walls Opposite Hotel Asia and G G M Science college and Guest House wall.
* Creating footpaths all over the city.
* Vertical garden in Jewel chowk and outside Medical college.
It is good work done as far painting/decorating of walls is concerned. But are they going to maintain these in same shape in the future also is a million dollar question.I saw the wall of GGM Science College littered with slogans of of a student organisation .Posters of Priya Tutorials pasted over the decoration works.Who is going to check this and stop this non-sense.Is it not the responsibility of the senior officers of Smart City to get out of coziness of their offices and check this.Why do not administration make someone responsible to arrest head of the advertiser littering the walls and take action them.
Regarding Footpaths They are really required where they are being created,like Jain Bazar,Gole market and so and so places where space is required for vehicular traffic to move smoothly .It is no good sitting in air conditioned offices and taking blanket decisions without verifying feasibility on the ground.When I was walking on the footpath along Govt Guest house,I found many of the tiles already coming out/chipped.Within next few months there will be demand for maintenance funds for the footpath.
Vertical gardens are really that important to get priority over parks where people can sit ,take morning and evening walks,children can play around and have picnics. The smart city authority needs to prioritise their works .No point wasting money on the name of spending for the sake of spending to enhance figures of funds spent.
Seeing present state of affairs I am of the opinion that Smart city authority should make people aware of their proposed works, seek their opinion,finalise their plans, then, publish them in the news paper,coordinate with all the affected departments,execute those works,publish yearly expenditure, item wise, in the news papers for information of public .Otherwise the embezzlements of funds cannot be stopped.
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