Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 6: Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner Dr Rajendra K V, instructed the officials of the department of horticulture, city corporation and the urban development authority, to draw up plan for the integrated development of Kadri Park.

Speaking after presiding over a meeting of officials held at the park on Friday February 5, Rajendra said that Ganganapalla water body in the park can hold about 30 lac litres of water. He felt that this water can be cleaned, stored by using plastic, and then used to water the plants in the park. He noted that currently used water is being supplied to the park after treatment. He said that the above body can be used to collect the water.

Noting that the fountain inside the park has not been functioning since a decade, he asked the concerned to prepare plan to repair the fountain and to make it more attractive. He suggested to Mangaluru Urban Development Authority, which collects park cess, to use the amount for the development of the park.

The deputy commissioner suggested to the horticulture department officials to hand over laser show maintenance to a private firm through tender. He also asked to formulate plan to develop skating rink. He noted that the park does not need lot of power. He observed that the toy train is running in the land owned by the horticulture department but its maintenance has been looked after social welfare department. He felt that instead of involving two departments, it would be better to hand over the entire operation to a single department.

Horticulture department deputy director H R Naik, senior assistant director Janaki, social activist G K Bhat etc were present.

City corporation commissioner Akshy Sridhar, noted that the deer park here does not have any deer. He suggested to keep a few deer here so that those visiting the park will have some satisfaction. He said that the overall development of the park will get a boost if both the parks are joined together. The DC asked the staff to address the issue of the gym equipment in the park not being maintained and asked the horticultural department officials to repair them by using some corporate social responsibility fund.

Rajendra also felt that market can be organised in the park once a month to allow farmers to market the fruits and vegetables grown by them. He felt that income through this can be used for park maintenance as everything cannot be managed by the grant of a single department.