Nagpur: The mini gardens and open green gyms in Beltarodi, developed to provide residents with recreational spaces, have now turned into unusable patches of wild vegetation during the monsoon.Thick weed overgrowth and waterlogging have left playgrounds unsafe and unkempt, disappointing families in the prime residential locality.Parents are increasingly reluctant to allow children to use these facilities, citing fears of snakes, insects, and slushy conditions.When TOI visited one of the gardens, it found multiple sections completely overtaken by weeds, leaving the ground uneven and unsafe.Outdoor gym equipment, swings, and slides are buried amid tall wild vegetation, making access inconvenient and risky.Benches that were once meant for community gatherings now stand engulfed by weeds, reflecting prolonged neglect. What should have been vibrant public spaces have gradually turned into overrun zones that discourage usage.Beyond spoiling the area’s aesthetics, residents fear the unchecked growth poses genuine health and safety risks, including snake sightings and insect breeding.A pre-primary school teacher pointed to one such mini-garden located right outside her institution. “We always hesitate to send our children out there. The garden has been completely covered by weeds, and the area is notorious for snakes. It is unsafe for young children,” she said.Asha Khobragade, a parent, told TOI that she often asks her 10-year-old son and his friends to play cricket on the road instead of the garden. “It’s all muddy now, and there’s no knowing what kind of insects or germs are breeding there. The children could easily pick up allergies or infections,” she explained.When contacted, Bharat Nandanwar, chief executive officer of the Besa-Pipla-Beltarodi civic body, said prompt action is taken whenever such complaints are received.”We have a dedicated department to address these issues. Initially, this area had only empty plots, so we started developing mini gardens and green gyms to encourage a community environment. If residents approach us with specific complaints, we act immediately,” he assured.
Comments are closed.