Agartala, September 11: Concerns over the upkeep of a Smart City park at Battala have intensified as residents allege that poor waste management, inadequate cleanliness and lack of effective monitoring are gradually turning the public facility into an unwelcoming space.
The park was developed as part of the Smart City initiative with the aim of providing residents with a clean and safe recreational area. However, people in the locality say the facility is falling short of that objective due to problems both inside the park and in the surrounding area.
The biggest challenge appears to be the park’s proximity to the Battala fish market. Residents allege that fish remains, market waste, discarded crates and other refuse are frequently left along the roadside and near the park boundary.
They say the accumulated waste has resulted in a foul smell and created unhygienic conditions around the premises. The situation is reportedly particularly inconvenient for pedestrians and visitors who pass through or use the area.
Conditions within the park have also become a concern. Garbage and empty liquor bottles have reportedly been found at several points, raising questions over the regularity of cleaning operations and supervision.
Residents have also made allegations regarding activities inside the park after sunset. They claim that groups suspected of consuming intoxicating substances gather there during the evening and later hours, creating an uncomfortable environment for visitors.
According to local people, families in particular are hesitant to visit the park after dark because of the perceived lack of security and monitoring.
Another issue highlighted by residents is the apparent gap between waste collection and disposal. Although municipal garbage collection vehicles reportedly operate in the vicinity, fish-market refuse is allegedly still being deposited along the roadside and close to the park wall.
Residents say the combination of poor sanitation, waste accumulation and foul odour has adversely affected the surroundings and diminished the usefulness of a facility created under the Smart City programme.
The condition of the park has consequently raised questions about the responsibilities of the Agartala Municipal Corporation, police and other agencies tasked with maintaining and securing Smart City infrastructure.
Local residents have urged the authorities to conduct regular cleaning, prevent dumping near the park, streamline disposal of fish-market waste and strengthen security measures, particularly in the evening.
They said sustained monitoring and maintenance are essential to ensure that the public money spent on urban infrastructure translates into facilities that residents can actually use safely and comfortably.
