Mangaluru: Members of the Kadri Park Development Committee (KPDC) have raised serious concerns over alleged lapses in the maintenance of Kadri Park, one of Mangaluru’s most prominent public lung spaces. The committee has submitted a detailed written representation to the Dakshina Kannada district administration, seeking immediate corrective measures to address issues affecting greenery, public amenities, and overall visitor experience in the park.
Kadri Park, located in the heart of the city, is frequented daily by walkers, children, senior citizens, and tourists. However, KPDC members have alleged that inadequate maintenance over the years has resulted in the deterioration of several facilities, undermining the purpose of the park as a recreational and ecological space.
Concerns raised by KPDC members
KPDC members B Jagannath Gambhir, Rama Mugerodi, and GK Bhat, in their letter to Deputy Commissioner Darshan HV, who is also the chairman of the committee, highlighted multiple shortcomings in the upkeep of the park. They pointed out that saplings planted inside the park often go missing, raising questions about monitoring and accountability.
The members also stated that several structures in the children’s play area are either damaged or non-functional, posing safety concerns and limiting access for young visitors. “The children’s play area, which should be one of the park’s key attractions, is in a neglected state,” the letter noted.
Issues with lake, fountain and greenery
Another major concern highlighted by the committee relates to Ganganapalla, the lake located inside Kadri Park. The lake was redeveloped by the Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) around three years ago. However, KPDC members alleged that no proper arrangements have been made to regularly fill the lake with water, leaving it largely dry and reducing its ecological and aesthetic value.
GK Bhat said the park’s garden areas lack suitable flowering plants, making the overall landscape less attractive. “A park of this importance should have vibrant flowering plants and well-maintained green patches. The absence of such planning affects the visual appeal and visitor experience,” he said.
The committee also pointed out that a fountain inside the park, which was repaired recently by MUDA, continues to remain defunct due to a lack of regular maintenance. Similarly, a specially developed park meant for children with special needs has also suffered from neglect, with inadequate upkeep of facilities.
Lighting and safety concerns
KPDC members stressed the need for special emphasis on maintaining streetlights inside the park. Poor lighting, they said, affects safety during early morning and evening hours, when a large number of walkers and families visit the park.
They further alleged that several decisions related to Kadri Park were taken without convening meetings of the KPDC, undermining the role of the committee that was constituted specifically to oversee the park’s development and maintenance.
The committee also expressed concern over what it described as inefficient expenditure, stating that flowers and fruits are often procured at high costs from outside the park for exhibitions, instead of being grown and maintained within the park premises.
Maintenance of public spaces discussed at MCC meeting
The issue of inadequate maintenance of parks and lakes across Mangaluru was also discussed recently during a pre-budget consultation meeting held at the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC). Several participants reportedly raised concerns that while multiple parks and lakes have been developed under various schemes, long-term maintenance has not been adequately planned.
Deputy Commissioner Darshan HV, who is also the administrative officer of the MCC and a member of MUDA and Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL), acknowledged the problem of insufficient funds and lack of clear responsibility for maintenance.
DC assures policy-level intervention
Responding to the concerns raised by KPDC, DC Darshan HV said that instructions would be issued to ensure that all future contracts related to the development of public amenities compulsorily include a maintenance clause. He said a decision has already been taken to mandate a maintenance period of three to five years in project estimates.
“Several lakes and parks have been developed in recent years, but the MCC does not have sufficient funds to maintain all of them. Hence, MUDA, MSCL, or any other department executing such projects should include a maintenance clause in the tender process itself,” the DC said.
He added that initiatives would be taken to address the specific issues pertaining to Kadri Park and to ensure better coordination between agencies responsible for development and upkeep.
Conclusion
The concerns raised by the Kadri Park Development Committee have once again drawn attention to the challenges of maintaining public spaces in rapidly growing cities like Mangaluru. While significant investments have been made in developing parks and lakes, the absence of structured maintenance mechanisms has led to deterioration over time. With the district administration now promising policy-level changes and corrective action, residents and park users hope that Kadri Park will soon regain its status as a well-maintained and vibrant green space for the city.