islamabad - The scenic Lake View Park of the city, which ensnared the locals, non-natives and foreigner picnickers in its magic charm for years, because of its beauty and excursion facilities, is now facing administrative negligence and disappointing its visitors. 

The park spans on hundreds of acres of land on the Kashmir Highway heading towards Murree. Where Aviary Park, recreational facilities, kids playing area, barbeque spots, train, etc. appeal the visitors while waves of the Rawal Lake touching the feet of the park boundaries pull crowds to enjoy the water motor rides.

But, the tide of this enthusiasm starts fading when the soothing breeze on the banks of the lake reaches to the picnicker, mixed with the fetor of waste and polluted water.

For the last few months, the park has suffered from multiple problems. The inquiries were ordered by the Capital Development Administration (CDA) against the contractor and some officials to probe the scam of ticket entry fee. It was reported that millions of rupees were embezzled in this regard. 

Other than this, the park failed in clearing its outstanding electricity dues, which resulted in the disconnection of power supply to the park. The park defaulted 2.7 million rupees in the bill for more than one month. And up to last information, the dues were not clear.  

Since the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) has established, the administration of the park has also become a question. Because of the involvement of both administrative bodies, the CDA and the IMC, it has become confusing that which one is controlling the park. 

Newly elected mayor of the city, Sheikh Anser Aziz vowed a few weeks before to improve and upgrade all parks and recreational facilities of the city. The park management says it is ready to welcome orders from any administrative authority. However, the management is currently being directed by the CDA.    

The park now also lacks standard cleanliness, questioning the activeness of park management present therein. The main entrance leading straight towards the lake point and the other main spots are maintained clean. However, the less visiting areas where lake water has surged, and people go there for the fishing purpose is found filled with disposable bottles and other filth.

Animal grazing has also become a routine matter in the vicinity of the park, dung on the footpath observed by The Nation verified the claim of a Taxi driver Mohammad Naeem, who provides pick and drop services to the visitors of the park. 

“Park management is aware of animal grazing, but they have allowed so to trim the grass beside the footpath,” said Naeem.

The Nation asked a visitor Aijaz Haider about the animal grazing inside the park to which he replied that he saw buffalos grazing, and it leaves a very bad impression on the person entering the park. 

Along with the students, elders, children, families and youngsters, the park has also become an attractive point for beggars also. Professional beggars escort the picnickers to the entry ticket booth. 

According to Aijaz, the park management seems less interested in keeping these beggars away from the visitors. “I paid two tickets at the booth, one on the counter and second to the beggar sitting down who was grabbing my shirt,” he said.

But, the park manager Abrar denied the allegations. He said: “I regularly visit the park to keep things in order and no beggar is allowed to enter the park.” 

He also said that park is always maintained well, and management especially focuses on its cleanliness to keep it ‘lush green’.  According to him, around 2,500 people visit the park on weekdays, while the number is raised up to ten thousand on weekends. 

But, another staff member of the park management who wished anonymity said that the park has been facing problems for last few months, and one of the major issues is non-availability of the light here. “The park is closed when the sun sets, and this is affecting the business activities here,” he said. 

Meanwhile, beggars, broken dustbins, dispersed polyethene bags, wrappers, broken benches, worst condition of washrooms, dysfunctional solar cars and water filtration plant witnessed by The Nation were contradicting the claims of the park manager. 

Park manager also said that the accounting office of the CDA would soon clear the electricity bill as the authority has approved it.  

Nadir Ali, a visitor from Lahore in the park, complained that the vendors here are overcharging the customers unnecessarily and the administration must look into this matter. “They are charging 40 rupees on half litre water bottle, this is very expensive,” he said. 

He also told The Nation that he regularly visits this park with family whenever he comes to Islamabad, and now in his view it is losing its charm gradually. 

“The current condition of the park even distracts me from the melodious songs being sung by the man sitting on the bench with his harmonium,” he said.