Aurangabad, Dec 15:
The municipal corporation utilized the funds received from the central government''s ministry of tourism for the rose garden at Majnu hill on 3 acres of land. The park has 13 different types of rose varieties that costed crores of rupees. However, many rose plants in the garden have dried up due to lack of maintenance.
The park was opened to the public free of cost in July last year. On the first day, 1,774 citizens visited the park. However miscreants started creating ruckus. Citizens and tourists who came with their families also found it difficult to set foot in the park. Finally, on the fourth day, the municipal corporation locked the park. The park has not been opened since then. The historic city attracts more than 30 lakh tourists every year. A few years ago, citizens demanded that there should also be a rose garden to spend the evening. Municipal corporation sent the proposal to the tourism ministry. The central government also gave a grant of Rs 3 crore. With this grant, a beautiful garden shaped like 14 rose petals was developed on 3 acres of land. The park has 13 different types of rose varieties such as Sophia, Gladder, Summersno, Ske Timanta, Christmia, Classic Act, Shocking Blue, Alinka. However, the condition of the garden has deteriorated in the last nine months. There is debris lying everywhere. The lights in the park have been broken. The water tank is dry. A year ago, it was decided to set up a separate toilet for tourists. No action was taken by the administration in this regard.
Impossible to take care of the garden
The garden had become a safe haven for drunkards and drug addicts. This made the citizens feel unsafe while walking around in the garden. If a private agency is appointed to take care of the park, tourists will feel that they have come to the garden.
Rose trees are pruned
Pruning is done on rose plants in the beginning of the winter season. Flowering usually begins in January and continues till the month of March. The rose bushes in the garden have not dried up. Work is underway to provide fertilizer and water said Vijay Patil, park superintendent.