Meghdoot garden now a picture of neglect

INDORE: Broken benches, dried up fountains, bumpy walking track, stench emanating from nearby nullahs and garbage dumps, are reasons enough to keep visitors at bay. The sprawling Meghdoot Garden, which was once the most sought-after destination for Indoreans, now lies in a deplorable state.
Situated in heart of the city and surrounded by posh localities of Vijay Nagar, Scheme 54, Scheme 74 Mahalaxmi Nagar, Tulsi Nagar and Sukhliya, the garden is steadily gaining the dubious distinction of being one of notorious recreational places.
Suresh Batwal, a regular visitor at the park, said, “The lawn is ill maintained with garbage strewn everywhere. There is absolutely no place for people to walk. The little that we have, is inhabited by strays.” Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) should find feasible solution to keep a check on stray dogs, he added.
Another visitor Kishan Likhar, a resident of Vijay Nagar said hoodlums scale the boundary wall to booze after sunset due to its low height. He added that children and women keep away from the park for fear of unlawful activities.
Anita Rane, a housewife, said the maintenance of the garden has gone for a toss. “The garden has turned into a garbage dump yard,” she said, adding that the open women’s toilet is soiled and is of no use. An employee of a private firm, Reena Sharma, said, “There is no provision for clean drinking water and visitors are forced to buy it from outside shops.”
Dolly Sharma, a homemaker said that IMC’s plans to introduce boating too seem to have fallen flat. “Mosquitoes breeding over the area, is an open invitation to vector-borne diseases,” she said.
Meghdoot Friends’ Club president Sumer Singh Rajput said the garden has become a den of illegal activities. Also, the broken and rusty swings have not been repaired for months.
IMC commissioner, while talking to TOI, had assured to take adequate steps to check any untoward activity on garden expanses. He said efforts would be made to step up security. Currently, there are only 23 guards as against 36 required.