If trees are the lungs of the planet, then Panjim’s gardens and parks are essential places that need to be retained and nurtured given the rapid concretization of the city.
Panjim is blessed with many gardens, spread across the city. There’s the Ambedkar Garden right opposite the bus stand, the Mermaid garden just after one enters the city, the Garcia de Orta or municipal garden, the Bhagwan Mahaveer Bal Vihar that is more commonly known as Children’s Park, the Jogger’s Park, and one other Caranzalem, besides many other smaller ones.
Money has been spent on the gardens. Plants have been grown, infrastructure put up – but as of today – except for the municipal garden, the maintenance of most of the other gardens leaves a lot to be desired.
Many of the gardens also attract an unwanted crowd, including vagrants and ladies of the night, given that many see little or no activity during the day or night. These unwanted elements further act as a deterrent for locals entering the garden defeating the purpose of having gardens as places where residents can relax.
The only garden that is probably in good shape, and used regularly, especially in the evenings, is the municipal garden. That happens because the Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) has managed to organize activities there on weekends and during festivals like carnival.
Many residents of the city feel that this should be encouraged and other gardens too should have some activity to enliven the place and attract people.
“Gardens should be used. People should come to them. They are not monuments,” said Maria dos Anjos Souza Ramalho.
While two of Panjim’s gardens are looked after by the Forest department, the CCP looks after the others. The civic body had recently said that they are facing problems in maintaining the gardens due to a paucity of funds and are trying to find means to sort out this problem.
The CCP has some 25 labourers to look after the trimming of the lawns of the gardens, but residents complain that the other infrastructure that has been erected in the gardens is a problem.
Panjim Mayor Surendra Furtado had recently told Herald that they were thinking of roping in companies to maintain the gardens.
