I am Meghdutam Park. I was created by the Noida Authority of UP Government for the welfare of general public. Sushri Mayawati, then Chief Minister of UP, inaugurated me on Saturday, 15 January 2011. I am sprawled in 17 acres. One round of my walkway is of about 1.5 kilometers. I have three toilets but only one is functional. There are many stone posts on which quotations of great sages and saints are inscribed. In addition, there is a grand amphitheater where more than one 1000 persons can sit. Many social, cultural and musical activities happen here.
I encompass abundant well grown trees of myriad varieties. Some people put residue religious material at the bottom of my Peepal trees. I do not like this practice, but I am unable to stop it.
I remain open from five in the morning till nine in the evening. I am a free park for everybody. No tickets are needed to enter. However, I have many security guards for the safety of my visitors. Notwithstanding posting of guards, some untoward incidents do happen once in a while. But these are far and few between. These incidents can be stopped if pusillanimous guards are replaced by brave ones.
I have a separate park for children. I am happy to see that on Sundays and holidays many visitors particularly school children come for picnic. A few years back, a gym was also installed. Numerous benches are fixed at various places for people to sit and enjoy. There are three beautiful huts (Chatries) in my three corners. One of them behind the Antriksh Green Society has recently been refurbished.
About one thousand visitors come daily in the morning and evening for walk, yoga, exercise, pranayama, dhyan, etc. Mostly they belong to nearby highrise societies and from Hoshiarpur and other villages in the vicinity.
However, I am pained to say that some people abuse me. Despite a gym, they use my benches, music system, trees, etc. to do exercise. They are all educated people and understand everything. If a bench or music system breaks down by their doing exercise on them, these very people will criticise Noida Authority for not repairing the furniture or broken item. I am pained by lackadaisical attitude of Noida Authority in carrying out repairs of my pathways and general upkeep.
My humble request to my dear visitors is that I am created for their benefit. They should prudently and wisely use me. It is in their own interest. I have expressed my feelings. It is now up to my users how they react.Thanks to all. Namaskar.
by Mahendra Singh (Sagar Presidency; 98102 47267)
