Goemkarponn desk
VASCO: The Vasco Municipal Garden is likely to get a revamp and will be managed by the Goa Forest Department. Deployment of private security guards to prevent the misuse of the infrastructure is also likely on the cards.
Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar, Councillor Shami Salkar, MMC Chairperson Girish Borker and forest department officials carried out a joint inspection of the Vasco municipal garden on Wednesday afternoon.
Speaking to the media later, Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar confirmed that the municipal garden would be maintained and managed by the Goa Forest Department.
“This municipal garden has existed since the Portuguese era and despite having enough space, there is no proper utilisation of the garden and we had written to the Forest department to take up the garden for a proper greenery in the park,” he said.
The Forest department is always taking good care of the gardens across Goa and we thought that we should hand over this garden to them. We have had a joint inspection of the garden and the garden will be maintained by the Forest department and some civil works required in the garden will be taken through GSUDA.
Salkar said they will have another inspection with GSUDA to show the work that we need so that the garden can have the maximum utilisation and the works on this garden could start by 10th September.
“The equipment of the garden is broken and while the children are unable to use the equipment, the garden is being misused for nefarious activity. We are also looking to set up an entire new layover plan for the garden so that we don’t have to worry for the next 25 years,” said Salkar.
“We also have plans to have private security guards for this garden to prevent the misuse of the children’s play equipment and prevent anti-social activities happening here. My practical opinion is that we must engage private security guards for all the new infrastructure that has been created because there is no other solution, especially because some people do not fear the Municipal Watchmen. We can also approach some business houses in Vasco to help us provide security guards to safeguard the gardens and streamline the system,” said Salkar.
Vishal Surve, the Dy conservator of the Forest said that the Chief Secretary had directed to creation of atleast one children’s park and garden across every Taluka.
“We then met Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar who gave us the NOC for this garden and we moved the proposal that has been sanctioned this year. We will take over this Vasco municipal garden and maintain it continuously like the Ana Fonte, Agha Khan Garden in Margao or the Joggers Park in Panjim etc. The major facelift of civil works will be done by the MLA Krishna Salkar through the GSUDA and the garden landscaping and the future maintained will be taken up by us” said Surve.
