Anandapur: It was inaugurated just before the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha. However, since then the children’s park here in this block of Keonjhar district has been under lock and key, much to the consternation of the local people and particularly the kids.
The residents here had been demanding for a children’s park for quite some time now and finally the district administration developed one at a cost of rupees one crore. However, since its inauguration, the park has been out of bounds for the common public.
No one is aware of the reason for which the park has remained closed. Unattended for long, it has now developed a shabby look with weeds and bushes all around. Heaps of murrum is obstructing the main entrance to the park.
The press club members here had submitted a memorandum to the District Collector Ashish Thakre last month, seeking his intervention in opening the park. However, after no concrete steps were taken they again met the Collector, at the Anandapur block office, August 19. They once more urged him to get the park opened.
The Collector then had a meeting with executive officer of Anandapur Municipality, Hitanshu Sekhar Samal on the condition of the park. He asked Samal to take necessary steps to open the park in a day or two.
However, since then a week has passed. It seems that even the District Collector’s intervention is not enough to open the park.
PNN