Revamp spots should be rid of dangerous debris

Representation pic

Rusty, old play equipment lying in a corner of a central suburban park is the cause of ire for several parents and guardians who are concerned that the equipment will cause injuries to children as it lies stashed in a corner but is not concealed.

Several children are even playing on the dilapidated equipment, discarded on to the side because of the park renovation. A report here stated that the revamp has been stalled for some reason and since a fortnight the equipment has been lying inside the park. Rusting iron can cause injuries and parents are concerned, with one saying she is not allowing her child to play unsupervised inside the park.

Officials have claimed the revamp will get going soon and the equipment will be stowed away, but we wish that this was done at the time the revamp began.

Once old equipment is taken down, it should be removed from the park. The revamp plan should factor this in at the beginning itself.

We have seen parks across the city, at times, where corners are full of some old equipment, jutting out iron or some kind of rusty playthings stashed on the side. This is not just in parks but even street corners where ‘revamps' have been done, with old stones, paver blocks, some piece of iron used while undertaking the revamp, a metal cover or broken pieces lying on the side. This can pose a danger to pedestrians, especially senior citizens, and further narrows an already challenging stretch, which is the status of most lanes or pavements in Mumbai.

If old, rusty and dangerous equipment cannot be removed right away, it must be appropriately covered. Remove the red tape that hinders immediate removal and ensure that parks, corners, infra are rid of this obstruction.