Editorial
Park management
Associate the community with it
Arecent media report has shown that public parks can be better managed through participation of the local community. Shining examples are Tank Park, Baridhara Park and the Lake Park in Gulshan. While the Baridhara Society takes care of Baridhara Park, Gulshan Society looks after the Lake Park, Dhaka City Corporation along with local community looks after the Tank Park.
Nearly all city parks managed by Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) are in a bad shape with illegal encroachments and leasing them out for commercial purposes. A worse scenario prevails in the case of children's parks. They are either abandoned or hardly exist. Government is taking measures to reclaim illegally occupied wetlands. These should now be extended to include move to vacate the parks and playgrounds now under illegal occupation. Strictest of measures must be taken against them. We are surprised there is no overseeing body to take care of legal impingement with regard to parks and open spaces.
Essentially, as Prof. Sirajul Islam, an adviser to DCC's high level committee on lakes and environment, says, " The people have to make DCC accountable for its duty." We believe, all ward commissioners have to basically fulfil their respective obligations under the leadership of the mayor who must make it a point to associate community participation. DCC should extend full support and co-operation to all community members willing to take part in park management.
Such a fusion can only take place if the government formulates specific policy guidelines for composite management committees which are inclusive of private participation.
With ever increasing degradation of our environment due to unplanned construction of high-rise buildings including filling up of major lakes and other water bodies, city dwellers' last hope for breath of fresh air and periodic relaxation is the park. It is vital particularly for the elderly section of our population, women and children.
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