Date:15/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/15/stories/2008121553090400.htm

Karnataka

A real eyesore Ground truth

The Channaiah Park has become an unauthorised parking area for goods vehicles

Sad state: The T. Channaiah Park in Chickballapur.

The T. Channaiah Park near the main bus stand in the heart of Chickballapur has become an eyesore. Named after the late Dalit leader from the undivided Kolar district, the park has become an unauthorised parking lot for trucks and other goods vehicles. One can find stray buffaloes, dogs and even pigs using the park that faces National Highway 7.

Every day scores of tourists and devotees from across the country and abroad bound for Puttaparti pass in front of the park. The Chickballapur City Municipal Council (CMC) has ignored the upkeep of the park.

Although Chickballapur does not have a proper park, the CMC had even thought of converting the only “park” in the town into a truck terminal.

A few years ago, the CMC had even started constructing a shopping complex at the park. But its plans could not take off as a concerned citizen approached the court and got the work stayed.

After Subodh Yadav was posted as Deputy Commissioner of Chickballapur when it became a new district in September 2007, he decided to give the park a facelift.

The district administration then announced that the park would be developed at a cost of Rs. 65 lakh and an architect had prepared the blueprint for it. Even though it has been months since such an announcement was made there has not been much progress in this regard.

K.V. SUBRAMANYA IN CHICKBALLAPUR