Park? Why not? But...

Can any Palampurwalla be averse to the idea of a new park for the town? I am sure, not. Particularly in these terrible times when the nature’s soothing green is being rapidly usurped by the ugly grey all around. Therefore when a proposal to this effect became news some months past, the land earmarked (near the DAV Public School), and it even became a work-in-progress, it was greeted by us all as a welcome development. There was nothing but praise on our lips for Shri Shanta Kumar, our honourable MP, for being the progenitor of the idea and the fund provider for its execution from his MPLADS. With glee we learnt that the park, named Nandan Park, would be a model of sorts with a running/walking track, WCs and a small cafeteria. What a gaping void would this park fill!

But alerted by a friend of mine about the present shape of things when I passed by the site the other day, I was in for a shock. Except for an odd bench or two, it looks bleak and rather Godforsaken. And horrors of horrors, the elegant deodars that the site is studded with, seem to be vanishing from there. A few of them have their big trunks debarked while others have simply dried up and become mere skeletons.  I wonder how? Is it some mysterious disease that has afflicted them? Or is it a clever but sinister anthropogenic stratagem being employed (to strip them off their bark, eventually leading to their  drying up) so as to make the way for their ultimate removal without raising the hackles of the environmentalists and the NGOs?  If it is some disease, then why only the trees within the confines of the park boundaries have fallen victim to it? Why not in the adjoining areas where the deodars abound? It is a matter which needs proper investigation, action and redress.

If this park is to come up at the expense of removing trees and that too such invaluable ones as the deodars which lend surreal charm and serenity to the area, then, I dare say, we are perhaps better off without having one. Who would want yet another concrete monstrosity in the name of a park? If the park is to be developed, it must be done imaginatively and thoughtfully, keeping the aesthetics in mind and with minimal damage or destruction of the existing flora at the site. For that matter, 'Kanwar Sita Ram Park' adjoining the Municipality office, just opposite the judicial complex/courts, is a case in example. Though modest in size, no tree has been cut and this park looks  attractive, inviting and vibrant with the tall and big deodars adding to its green aura and aesthetic appeal. Personally, I hold the deodars sacred, saintly and divine, standing tall and erect as if in calm contemplation of the universe. Therefore (for me) cutting or removing them, for whatever reason, is sinful, unbearable and unpardonable.

I can only hope and pray that those who have been entrusted with the job of developing this park are given a strict, clear and well-defined list of ‘dos and don’ts’, and specifically asked to preserve each and every tree, the deodars in particular. I humbly and respectfully request Shri Shanta Kumar, who has a stake in this venture, to kindly ensure that the park becomes a 'green' asset to this town rather than a crying shame in the name of a park. I urge Shri Brij Behari Lal Butail, hon'ble Speaker of our Vidhan Sabha, too to prevail upon the 'park-developers' not to cut down or remove the deodars under any excuse or justification whatsoever.

            

The deodars at the new Park site: 'barked off 'or drying up

Green and vibrant :Kanwar Sita Ram Park

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Nation shamed; the MP celebrates

The nation is shocked while Ravindra Gaikwad, the Shiv Sena MP celebrates the revoking of ban on flying imposed by Air India. This was done at the behest of the government and by explicit orders from the Civil Aviation Ministry- obviously under the arm-twisting of the BJP by its ally, the Shiv Sena. In other words this implies that a lawmaker can misbehave and slap the staff, create ruckus, delay flights and even jeopardise the safety of other air passengers but he is above law. What a bad precedent this ‘parliamentary pardon’ given to this Shiv Sena MP purely out of political considerations sets for the country. What a poor picture of India it presents before the world. How demoralising it is for the aam aadmi and the airlines. The utterly inexcusable slipper-beating of an elderly Air India staffer by this arrogant, remorseless MP and then a big boast about it before the press afterwards, is a matter of national shame. Arm of law should have been swift and firm in dealing with this lawmaker-turned-law breaker. But no, here he is having gone scot free.

I have signed a petition initiated by an activist Shailesh Gandhi through change.org and shared it with my friends on Facebook, meant to be sent to the PM asking him to not let this MP get away with his act of gross misconduct and let the law catch up with him. I urge all my friends to please sign the petition and share it further with their friends. Let’s not be fence-sitters any longer to such kind of brazenness.

                                                                            

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Quotes of the week

Internal beauty is more important than external beauty

             - The Dalai Lama

Don't blame EVMs for defeat

             -  EC to Kejriwal

Romeo loved just one lady, while Krishna was a legendary Eve teaser

              - Lawyer-social activist Prashant Bhushan

Indian cricketers' salary of Rs 2 crore is "peanuts"

              - Ravi Shastri (NDTVSports.com)

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 Random news headlines

Nitish (Bihar CM) urges PM to impose total liquor ban across country

                   -Deccan Herald

IISc (Bengalore) best institution in the country

                       -Deccan Herald

AAP govt abused power in allotment of official residences: Shunglu panel
                    -Deccan Chronicle
Priyanka Chopra voted world's second most beautiful woman

                  -The Indian Express

After cigarettes and gutkha, Yogi Adityanath govt bans jeans, T-shirt in UP colleges

                              -Zee News

Nuclear power most viable source as others depleting:scientists

                     -Deccan Herald

Greenland's  coastal glaciers and icecaps have officially melted past the point of no return

                     -malaysiandigest.com

With 30 crore patients, depression now no.1 reason for ill-health:WHO

                    -Times of India

Laziness may be contagious:study

                     -Deccan Herald

Chronic irritation due to ill-fitting dentures may cause oral cancer

                     -Business Standard

India among top 4 in death by smoking
                       -ToI

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