Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Mar 17: Nehru Maidan, which used to be the centre of cultural activities in the town, is now in shambles. The expectations of the citizens, nurtured over the last two to three decades about the ground being transferred to the municipality, have  been belied. Now the  transfer process has reached a stage from where one expects that it will be handed over at least during the golden jubilee celebrations of the municipality.

Nehru Maidan is under the revenue department now and therefore there is no development. For many years, public and the municipal councillors have been urging the concerned to hand over the Maidan to the municipality. However their pleas and efforts have failed to get the desired result. Even though the municipality is interested in developing the Maidan to meet the aspirations of the people, technical issues are coming in their way.

The town is short of an open air dais to organize cultural activities like huge gatherings, Yakshagana, plays etc. Two decades back the municipality had built a stage here but no one knows of any programme having been held there. 

Now, bushes have grown everywhere in Nehru Maidan and UGD pipes have occupied large spaces. Dirt and waste can be seen and in the evening, migrant  workers lie down at the Maidan. Even though the municipality has cleaned up the stage here recently, the dusty ground continues to look and remain forlorn.

Municipal president Veena Bhaskar Mendon, says that the revenue department was approached  with a request to hand the Maidan over to the municipality so that by using the grant, it can be developed.  She said that the tahsildar was expected to attend a meeting held recently, and added that the deputy commissioner would be urged to  hand over the ground to the municipality so that it can be fully and properly developed. 

The municipality has conceived of a grand plan to rejuvenate the Maidan by providing decorative lights to the road between the Maidan and the park. UGD pipes have been asked to be shifted elsewhere. Municipal chief officer Gopaklakrishna Shetty, says that the concerned have been asked to complete the process of handing the ground over to the municipality and that it is expected that the needful will be done shortly.