Expensive Chinese grass, decorative palms and lush flowers welcoming the first citizen of the country in Ranchi are no longer available for others, thanks to the apathy shown by the administration and the civic body.
Dividers of Hinoo Road, Harmu leading to Raj Bhavan, to Tana Bhagat Indoor Stadium, Hotwar and towards Birsa Institute of Technology, Mesra were planted with greenery at substantial cost just ahead of President Pranab Mukherjee’s two-day visit last week only. Moreover, just after few days of his departure, most of the plants are gasping for water.
“It was looking beautiful. But now you can see, most of the plants are dying. The grass has been grazed away by cattle or mutilated by passersby. Several plants have also been stolen away by miscreants as there is nobody looking after them now,” said Mahendra Singh, a resident of Harmu Road.
All these road dividers decked with expensive Chinese grass and plants are now left in its usual condition without any care as the authority responsible to maintain these plants are no longer interested in maintaining them, inspite of the fact that it enhances the beauty of the city. Moreover, even the roads which were re-carpeted are back to its usual position.
Most worrying is the fact that when there was no dispute when it came spending for the occasion, now Departments feel maintenance a burden. “We are not responsible for the maintenance of plants. The department too does not get involved evolved in this particular activity always. As far as maintenance and beautification of dividers is considered, several corporate take the responsibility and accordingly
“This time during the presidential visit, with the support of different firms, the department had coordinated and has beautified the Birsa Munda Raj Path and the project was through the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme,” informed Praveen Kumar, Deputy Secretary with Road Construction Department.
Similarly, even the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) officials are clueless about the maintenance and management of plants decked at road medians at major places. Chinese grasses which are put at the road dividers along with several other decorative plants are very expensive and need regular care and maintenance.
“With the help of few corporate houses, we have been trying to maintain these plants and especially the Chinese grass put up at several dividers, as it is expensive. We are also trying to get in touch with few advertisement agencies to maintain the plants. Though at few places, we have deployed people but again we lack man power. However, at few place companies like RKS Group maintains the dividers and plants,” said, PRO of RMC, Naresh Kumar Sinha.
On the other hand denizens too act in irresponsible manner and do not cooperate with the authorities. “As a responsible citizen one should abide the rules and regulations set by authorities but at several places, people either uproot the grasses and plants or they cross the road stepping the dividers which hampers the plants and grasses. Stray cattle’s also impedes the plants, as there are no proper fencing arrangements,” added Sinha.