Upkeep of gardens should be top priority

Most of the equipment at Swami Vivekanand Garden in Kannamwar Nagar, Vikhroli is old and broken

The BMC's Rs 2,000-crore beautification project must include special attention to gardens. Some gardens have old and dangerous equipment while others, though set up, lack safety precautions.

A garden in Ghatkopar East has a children's play area set up with new equipment by the BMC. Locals, however, pointed at the absence of safety precautions such as soft carpet that can ensure a safe landing for cavorting, falling kids.

While new equipment and upgradation is all very well, designers must have a holistic perspective when it comes to these play spaces. A carpet or cushioned floor is necessary as children can tumble from equipment or fall when they are roughhousing it.

Also Read: Mumbai: Children's play areas lie neglected in city gardens, allege locals

A garden in Vikhroli is in very bad condition with most play equipment old, broken and rusty - which means it can break at any time, putting kids in peril. The same is the state of a kids' play area in Dharavi, but here two agencies are claiming that this is the other's responsibility when told of the poorly-maintained equipment.

Mumbai's space constraints means our children have to make do with playing in garages, on handkerchief-sized grounds and any empty space eked out between cars.

When play facilities are given to children by the civic administration, they have to be of good quality and regular maintenance and repairs are a must.

One does agree that the equipment is used by many children and so the wear ‘n' tear is high. Yet, this is no excuse for allowing it to fall into disrepair and become dangerously dilapidated. It is also disappointing that parents and activists have to push to get things moving on the repairs front, instead of officials taking note of equipment that is falling apart and get cracking on maintenance. Our play zones are few and, because of that, very precious. Upkeep should be top priority.