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Mangalore City Corporation to develop three parks

By Our Staff Correspondent

MANGALORE DEC. 11 . The Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) has decided to improve three parks in the city and revive another forgotten lung space in Derebail village. The MCC has set up groups to oversee the work. The Commissioner of the MCC, J.R. Lobo, told The Hindu that the MCC planned to improve Valencia Circle Park, Gandhinagar Park, and Kadri Park.

Kadri Park has remained underdeveloped due to the nature of the soil. The entire park sits on a plateau of laterite. Except for some local species, no trees will grow to its full height. Botanists say that the park needs the local varieties of trees to make it tolerably green.

Mr. Lobo said the Pilikula Nisarga Dhama was experimenting with re-creating the biodiversity of the Western Ghats in Moodushedde village. Stating that this experiment had shown good progress, he said the same technique could be applied in Kadri Park also. For this, the Horticulture Department should hand over the land to the MCC. Stating that a part of the park was under the Forest Department, he said the MCC had proposed to the district administration to construct a 10-lane swimming pool there. Valencia Circle Park, one of the important landmarks of the city, came up in 1982. This well-maintained park has its own water source. Mr. Lobo said this park was in need of facilities such as a sand pit to attract the people to use it on a regular basis. The MCC has already developed Gandhinagar Park at Urva with the help of the local people. The park has a radio tower and compost production unit. Members of laughter club, and others who come for a walk make use of this park.

Radio Park at Chilimbi Hills in the Derebail area has natural landscape fit for a park. The hill retains its greenery throughout the year and acts as a true lung space in southern Mangalore. The 4.2 acres of the hill was once developed in 1982, thanks to the initiative taken by the Mayor, M. Shashidhar Hegde, who is also the corporator for Derebail. The hillock, which overlooks the lush green Derebail village, gives a panoramic view of the surroundings.

The former Mayor, Sadashiv Bhandary, said Radio Park was the last lung space between southern Mangalore and Suratkal. During its heyday, the park used to attract people from various areas of Mangalore. But after the Forest Department took it over for upkeep, it turned into a forest with thick undergrowth surrounding the fountain and the radio tower.

Mr. Hegde said the land had been handed back to the corporation. It would fence the area and start developing the park. The corporation would also get the contour map drawn and strengthen the civil structures such as the radio tower and the fountain.

He appealed to the people to help in reviving this park. The local advisory group includes Prabha Kudva, who has taken personal interest in developing Gandhinagar Park.

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