MOHALI: Mohali Municipal Corporation is all set to adopt a policy for maintenance of parks, green belts, center verges and chowks in the city. The government of Punjab has notified the policy for maintenance and upkeep of parks within municipal limits.
The agenda for the adoption of the policy will be brought in the upcoming MC house meeting scheduled for Tuesday. The various aspects considered under this policy are maintenance of triangles, central strips, chowks for horticulture works like plantation, de-weeding and watering.
Mohali MC may invite offers from registered companies for maintenance of triangles, central strips and chowks under its jurisdiction. Interested companies may take these up under their corporate social responsibility programme.
MC commissioner Kamal Kumar Garg said, “The triangles, central strips and chowks are part of the overall city plan. Much of the work related to maintenance arises due to shortcomings in public behaviour such as littering of serviceable areas and lack of a mechanism for citizen participation.
Therefore, it is desired that efforts be made to make the proposed triangles, central strips and chowks self sustained to provide a better environment to citizens through effective operation and maintenance.”
Garg said that plantation of trees, plants and shrubs in designated triangles, central strips and chowks as well as their upkeep and maintenance would contribute to the aesthetic value of public space in the city and also promote citizens’ health.
Under CSR, the company will have to water plants and trees regularly and conduct landscaping at intervals. Clearing of weeds, litter, unwanted plants, thorny bushes, lawn caring and trimming of plants and trees to desired shape and size are some of the other responsibilities involved. Application of pesticides, fertilisers as may also be required.
Maintenance work shall be carried out by the company at its own cost. Mohali MC commissioner will be the nodal official for all purposes. This policy is applicable only for horticultural works.
The MC will not give any payment, manpower and machinery to the said company for maintenance purposes.
The company shall not utilise or permit to utilise triangles/central strips/chowks belonging to the MC for any purpose other than its maintenance as a green area. The company shall ensure that no encroachment is made in the triangles, central strips and chowks.
Ownership control, possession and supervision of the triangles, central strips and chowks shall remain with the MC and the company will only have the right to display its name on a small board not more that 3'x1'6" in size on road side triangles and center strips as approved by the commissioner or officer empowered by him and on his behalf.
Green belts become parking lots
No lessons have been learnt from incidents like murder of a Mohali-based lawyer over the issue of parking. Years have passed but the MC has failed to provide proper parking spaces to residents. The result is rampant use of parks and green belts as parking lots in the city. Lack of space and absence of proper inspection by authorities has encouraged the use of parks as parking lots.
Two years ago, the then MC commissioner ordered challaning of all vehicles parked on the streets outside houses or in markets, which were found to be obstructing the right of way of essential services like ambulances and fire brigade but very less has been done to check encroachment of public land.
