Deekshith D V
Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Aug 25: Kadri Park is the city’s largest park and has been a popular spot for joggers, and weekend leisure hub for families, especially children for the last many years. Unfortunately, now the park has become a favoured place for various kinds of illegal and undesirable activities.

At one corner of the park is a defunct well covered with an iron grill, which has now become a dump yard for thieves to dispose off of offering boxes stolen from religious centers. Though the park has an iron fence it can be breached at many spots, permitting entry to all and sundry from various sides of the park.

Moreover, there are no proper fences in place to prevent trespassers. As there is no adequate fencing thieves get into the park very easily. Though it is clearly displayed that smoking and alcohol is strictly prohibited, visitots often see quite a few smoking in broad daylight, not to mention the alcohol bottles strewn inside the premises.

An anonymous source said that though the toy train ‘Balamangala Express’ is parked in the tunnel inside Kadri Park, thieves have made off with its battery and radiator. This park has become a hotbed of illegal activities with the bronze accessories of fountains and CFL bulbs from park lights being stolen. Over the past few days the park is in complete darkness at night.

Weeds have grown densely, and there are used condoms and wrappers thrown indiscriminately around the park. Worse, Kadri Park has also become a spot for urinating in public.

Regular joggers and walkers at the park had complained that there are no proper lights, but no action has been taken. The administration has spent huge sums to cultivate the lawn but its condition is pathetic as it is overgrown with weeds.

There are several flower pots lying around in the park that are likely to aid mosquitoes to breed in the water collected in these. Already, the city has many cases of malaria and dengue and this kind of apathy will only abet the increase of mosquitoes.

The park has deteriorated and though the representatives assure of providing it a facelift, work is lagging. Kadri Park is in a mess and despite there being MLAs, an MP, and three ministers from the district, nobody is concerned about its pathetic condition.