The Jammu Municipal Corporation has failed egregiously in upholding the venerable Parade Sports Ground, a cornerstone in the heart of Jammu City. Concerns among sports enthusiasts have reached a zenith as the lamentable state of the ground has metamorphosed into a veritable quagmire. The dusty and uneven outfields, marred by numerous potholes, have transformed the once-vibrant arena into a formidable challenge for athletes. The glaring absence of a proper grass cover has given rise to a plethora of injuries among budding young talents, casting a pall over their enthusiasm for outdoor sports. Instead of ameliorating the deplorable state of the Parade Ground, it has been consistently usurped as a parking lot for the entourage of politicians and officials frequenting the Civil Secretariat nearby. It was only due to a court decree that vehicular ingress into the ground was curtailed. The most egregious affront to the aesthetics of the Parade Ground is the colossal waste repository situated on the opposite side of the road, perpetually inundated with garbage disposal throughout the day. The resultant noxious odours emanating from this abhorrent site have rendered the atmosphere practically unbearable. Astonishingly, the JMC appears to have fashioned no scheme to extricate this dumping ground from its current location.
Collectively, the disconcerting presence of flies, mosquitoes, filth, and obstructed drains conspires to greet the children who venture to the parade grounds in search of recreation. What compounds this predicament is the fact that this open expanse stands as the solitary refuge for outdoor activities in the old city, yet no earnest endeavours have been undertaken to preserve its integrity. The JMC has consistently faltered in its critical duty of enhancing the condition of the ground. The prevailing condition is characterised by unkempt grass, crater-like potholes, and woefully uneven terrain, all of which are the paltry offerings bestowed upon the children. A concerted plan for the metamorphosis of the Parade Ground is long overdue.
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