JAMMU: On April 1, 2012 when former Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad along with Rajya Sabha MP Dr Karan Singh had dedicated Maharaja Hari Singh Park to the people of Jammu they had expressed high hopes of developing the green patch along the banks of river Tawi for the benefit of visiting tourists/pilgrims and provide breathing space to the local residents.
But instead of converting the park into an exotic joggers park, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah never allowed junior rung bureaucracy to develop it as envisaged by the Congress stalwarts. All this happened when Congress was part of the alliance government in the State.
Over a period of time the place was converted into a mere parking space for dumping heaps of garbage and vehicles bringing rallyists to nearby party offices of political parties or MA Stadium. Not a single plant sapling or tree was planted in the park to convert it in to a green space.
Along with the park, the second statue of Maharaja Hari Singh was also unveiled on the occasion, more than five decades after his death in oblivion in Mumbai on April 26, 1961.
The then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had purportedly given slip to both the official functions by moving out of Jammu early morning.
His deputy in the Home Ministry Nasir Aslam Wani’s name was mentioned on the inaugural plaque but he too remained conspicuous with his absence.
Now sitting Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, after assuming the charge, has been taking keen interest in the development of park and regularly monitoring the progress of the same to ensure its timely completion.
On Friday she visited the site of Maharaja Hari Singh Park on the banks of river Tawi to personally take stock of the progress of work.
She also directed the authorities to set up a coffee shop-cum-library and special ladies corner in the park besides developing recreational facilities for locals and pilgrims visiting the city of temples.
The spacious park with recreational facilities is being developed near Tawi bridge on 45 kanals of reclaimed land and is scheduled to be dedicated to the people in August this year.
Vice-Chairman, JDA, Mr Mubarak Singh informed the Chief Minister that Rs 75 lakh are being spent on earth-filling and landscaping of the area including turfing, laying of flower beds and plantation.
She called for expediting work on the park so that the people of Jammu can get another recreational and outing facility on the banks of the river traversing the winter capital. “I want the work to be completed on this park at the earliest,” she said.
Expressing dismay over the heaps of garbage lying unattended in the Tawi river bed adjacent to the upcoming public park, the Chief Minister called for immediate disposal of the garbage to keep the river clean. She directed Jammu Municipal Corporation to deploy additional manpower for cleaning the area around the upcoming park which has otherwise become a black spot and needs to be cleared immediately.
Mehbooba Mufti said with the signing of the recent MoU with Sabarmati River Front Development Corporation, for development of Tawi river front, this historic river and its surroundings would get a new look and it would add immensely to the tourism potential of Jammu city.
Meanwhile, political observers commented Omar Abdullah resisted all efforts to develop the park as his grandfather had love-hate relationship with the Maharaja and they never liked each other’s company.
The observers claimed “In order to protect their core constituency in Kashmir, Omar avoided coming on the same platform with their alliance partners where an attempt was being made by them to resurrect the charisma of erstwhile Dogra ruler and repackage his legacy to consolidate their vote bank”.
The observers said “when it is public knowledge that Maharaja Hari Singh never enjoyed cordial relations with Sheikh Abdullah how can you expect the State Chief Minister to become part of such an event and align with Maharajas legacy.
In the past, on February 2009, Mayor of Jammu belonging to BJP, Kavinder Gupta had unveiled a statue of Maharaja Hari Singh and not even a single leader of the Congress party had turned up at the event.
But in 2012 the same Congressmen, under the directions of Ghulam Nabi Azad, tried to hijack the entire show and positioned themselves as inheritors of Maharaja’s legacy”.