Mumbai: Decrepit Santacruz garden becomes haven for users again

Eknath Koparde garden Check Next Muktanand garden Saraswat Colony Santacruz It appears middays garden audit is bearing fruit blooming one more green open space mdash a broken wall rebuilt swings reattached drinking water taps installed and toilets spruced up like never before the garden is showing the first signs of improvement just a fortnight after civic officials promised at middays Round Table to look into the neglect and fix the issuesSexagenarian Alex Dsouza has a special place in his heart for Muktanand garden This is where he says proudly he has been coming for walks for the last two decades something that helped him to bring his weight down into two digitsChildren have been having a whale of a time as one of the things fixed has been the swings PicsSayyed Sameer AbediThe garden had shrubs and bushes earlier when the Brahmakumaris used to maintain it But later for several months it felt ignored and abandoned he added relaxing on a bench near the entrance after an exhausting morning walk and expressing the hope that more things improve over time and his beloved garden is made pristine againOn their toesWhen midday paid a visit on Tuesday and Wednesday we saw that two security guards on the premises kept a watch on everyone and were on their toes till the gates shut Also no sooner did midday did spot a group of guys smoking in an isolated corner of the garden the guards spotted them too and immediately shooed them awayWhile the broken wall at the back is yet to be fixed the slew of changes made have given regular visitors hope of more to come PicsSayyed Sameer AbediWhile locals acknowledged and applauded this newspaper as well as authorities for these efforts they also reminded that a lot more needed to be done There is an old tree here We have been repeatedly urging authorities to trim it It is bent and we are afraid it will come down us said octogenarian R N Patel who is part of a group of senior citizens who gather in the garden to chat every evening Another regular visitor Dev Vohira 64 said Cleanliness and maintenance of the toilets and the garden needs to be consistentPeanuts for kidsBut while relief may be on its way for several regular visitors there is zilch for the 100odd students from nearby slums who gather in the garden to study every morning and evening So far no facilities mainly lights and fans have been provided for these children who are taught by a group of women supported by the Angel Express Foundation The Foundations owner Anubha Sharma had raised concerns during middays Round Table over permissions and noncooperation from civic officialsOn Thursday the guards initially refused entry to the slum kids for their classesHowever after other regular visitors backed the children and teachers and argued with the guards on their behalf they were let in Local BJP corporator Alka Kelkar said We have plans to redevelop the garden as a theme park I have given my suggestions to the civic body it has told me that the work is likely to commence by October or November For now I have issued instructions to clean the floor with bleach and trim all the trees identified as dangerousGarden auditPrime problems then Filthy toilets No drinking water facility Trees left untrimmed No swings Poor overall maintenance Lax security No shelter provision in case of rainsAction taken now Toilets cleaned up Drinking water taps installed Swings reattached One of the two broken walls rebuiltAlso readMumbai midday Garden Audit helps revive Kurla parkCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates