look at our newly constructed buildings at our garden premises, it gives you the feeling of a mall. Have you noticed this at any other city parksIJ Obviously not, exclaimed a management committee member of the famous Rock Garden, a tourist destination known for its natural rocky structure and openness until now.
Sadly the destination may compete with malls but definitely at the cost of what it is known for. “Am I really roaming in a parkIJ Gone are those rock welcomes nature look. The moment you enter this park, you will notice a huge building instead of viewing the nature on the lap of rock,” says Konica Das with anguish on her face.
One of the most visited tourist hub of State capital Ranchi has imitated an artificial look these days covering the rocky parts in the name of beautification and modernisation. Fibre-coated concrete buildings, tiled floor, cemented stairs and brick and artificial play zones have ruined the old natural look.
Two huge buildings at the heart of the garden have come up. One multi storey building would have a restaurant on the first floor and a canteen at the ground floor hampering visitors’ view completely. Another building has a restaurant and huge space for ladies and gents washrooms. Moreover, most of the greenery is now being managed by cemented fences.
“During my school days few years ago, this garden was a perfect place to enjoy the environment friendly ambience but now it is more like an urbanised concrete area with lights and buildings bulging every here and there,” adds Konica Das.
Denying the fact of covering the rock with artificial structures, Garden Manager Ramadhar Singh said, “None of the rock has been disturbed in modifying the park. Visitors now praise us for investing in restaurants, toilets and sheds. Compared to earlier days, we have just developed the park not commercialised.”
This garden is on a 42 years lease since 2004 from Ranchi Regional Development Authority (RRDA). In fact, the permission for the unnatural look has come from RRDA officials. The entire funding of this park is done by Nerve Knock Theme Private limited, Kolkata. The garden committee pays around Rs 4 lakhs quarterly to RRDA.
RRDA head also Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Vinay Kumar Choubey said, “If the terms between RRDA and the private party allows for this commercial values, then it is alright. I will have to look into the details of the terms of this agreement.”
As if it was enough, there are more plans in line. “We would soon introduce a fountain covering its nearby areas with mud and tiles so that people can view the Kanke Dam with ease right from our garden. A swimming pool arrangement is to also to be done in the coming days within 4000 square feet of this garden area,” said the bubbling Manager.