Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 18: Compared to cities like Mysuru and Bengaluru, the city has only a few parks. The greenery level in several wards here is at a level that is less than what is desirable. Therefore a plan has been drawn up to make the city attractive with 80 parks dotting its wards. The plan will be executed by Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), which has begun the task of spot inspection. Of these, 43 parks will be located within Mangaluru south assembly constituency and 37 in Mangaluru north constituency.

In the first phase, 15 parks will be built around the city. This work is planned to be completed in three months. The parks will be developed in five phases. In the first phase, six parks will come up in the city north constituency and nine in the south constituency. This was stated by chairman of MUDA, Ravishankar Mijar. He said that the support of the MP and legislators will be drawn to successfully implement the plan.

Kadri Park in Mangaluru (file photo)

If the spots identified are too small, Miyawaki style park resembling a mini forest will be built. If the area is medium in size, walking track, children’s point etc will be installed. If it is a landscape model, an attractive park will be designed, said MUDA engineer Aarati.

A team of city corporation officials is already on the job of identifying the spots for the parks which are planned to be built in Padil, Maroli, Yekkur etc. There is a plan to entrust the future maintenance of these parks to companies, institutions, banks etc, it is learnt.

Among the city dwellers, the children and the senior citizens in particular are living under pressure and many elders are showing symptoms of depression particularly after the spread of the pandemic. They need good parks to refresh their bodies and minds in the morning and evening. MUDA therefore plans to provide at least one park to each of the wards.

Ravishankar Mijar said that the 80 parks planned now will be on the lines of the three models referred above and they will beautify the city further. He said that as per the current plans, the parks will be built within a year by using the grant of MUDA.