Senthil Kumar
Rangat, Nov 21: A small but beautiful Children’s Park near the Assistant Commissioner’s Office, next to Hanuman Temple of Rangat has become the talk of Rangat area due to abysmal maintenance. The Rangat Panchayat Park appears lustrous in the first instance; but a deeper insight will mirror years of neglect marking a recreational area totally unfit for children.
Swings, which should have been swaying with kids on board, remain deserted as most of them are rusted posing threat of injuries to children. Joggers develop cold feet before stepping into the footpath for fear of tripping down on the slipper track. The Park has become a major source of revenue generation for the Panchayat authorities through claims of yearly renovations. In reality, all the play items in the Park continue to remain in an abysmal state except for routine coats of paint to give them a glossy look.
Impromptu planning by the Panchayat in adding features to the Children’s Park has added to the woes of the Rangat residents. Recently, a concrete footpath was constructed for the benefit of children. But, the footpath remain soaked in rain water and covered with algae causing injuries to children. Similarly, the concrete basement for the playing equipments in the Park has led to many accidents in the past injuring dozens of kids of the area.
Panchayat authorities claim lakhs of rupees are spent every year for maintenance and purchase of new equipments for the Park. But sources allege that official records will prove that except for painting works, not a single new play equipment has been purchased in the last several years for the Park. As a result, the Park has remained nobody’s baby in the region for years.
“The last time the Panchayat purchased equipment for the Park was 15 years ago. Except for painting and minor renovations, the Panchayat has not added a single new equipment in the Park since then. The derelict and rickety conditions in the Park deter children to visit the Park. Many have suffered injuries during play in the past. Shockingly the Park has a single street light to illuminate a vast area. The Park has also become home to many venomous snakes of late. Many encounters with children have been reported fortunately without any casualties. Many questions on the integrity of the Panchayat authorities remain unanswered. How does the Panchayat claim huge amounts from the government coffers without purchasing equipments for the Park? How does the concerned Engineer clears the financial expenditure without ascertaining the genuineness of the works carried out? The misdemeanours of the Panchayat authorities and others concerned will stand exposed once a thorough probe is orders,” claim sources.
