Adopt-a-Park: JMC launches novel initiative for upkeep of city parks through community participation

JAMMU : Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has introduced a novel concept for the proper maintenance of the public parks and gardens in Jammu city through community participation.

Christened, Adopt-a-Park Programme, the unique initiative includes a wide range of activities for maintenance of parks and gardens in the city to be undertaken under Private-Public Partnership.

The first project taken up under this initiative is the park located Opposite House No: 124, Sector: 04, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu for which an MoU has been signed between JMC and Ms Mitali Gupta.

The programme includes activities like picking up stray litter from the park, de-weeding, planting and maintenance of a specific area.

According to Commissioner, JMC, Avny Lavasa the initiative will be scaled up as individuals and organizations come forward to join this civic movement. She said the individuals/organizations keen to join this initiative can mail their application to JMC on the official email ID: [email protected].

She said any individual (of 18 years of age or above), business groups, NGOs and any other citizen groups can become sponsors by adopting public parks/gardens within the city limits. Such individuals and organizations, she said, shall have to apply through a prescribed application form and sign an adoption agreement with JMC. “However, before adopting a park/garden, consent of the Corporator of the local municipal ward is necessary,” she said.

Avny said that such partnerships between the Government and citizens are important to ensure community participation in the city’s development and widen the ambit of stakeholders for sustained upgrading of civic amenities.

Mayor Jammu Municipal Corporation, Chander Mohan Gupta has applauded the JMC authorities for this unique initiative.

Pertinently, JMC is presently maintaining around 245 parks and 50 rotaries/green strips in Jammu City.