BENGALURU: One-and-a-half acres of garbage dump, where a dead body was found buried seven years ago, is now a sprawling rock garden. How did this happen? It all started six months back.
A local BBMP corporator Ram Mohan Raju C R had received a complaint about the dump from a concerned resident. VS Murthy, a 70-year-old who has been residing in the neighbourhood for years, cannot remember a time when this plot was free from garbage. Residents of Devarachikkanahalli, ward number 174, had been keeping away from it because of the foul stench and its notoriety as a den of thieves and drug users.
When the corporator visited the site, he noticed that the land was built on rock. “I immediately set to work, hoping to have a world-class rock garden,” he says. Workers were brought in the very next day, in early January.
Cobra, illness scared workers
The rot and stench were so bad that, out of 10 labourers, four fell seriously ill after a day of work and took a week to recover, says Raju. It took nearly two months to clean the spot and, in the process, about 50 snakes, including a cobra, were spotted.
“The garbage was taken to Yelahanka and we dumped it where we are supposed to,” says the corporator. “We had to clear the spot in our neighbourhood, it was so full of trash that we didn't even spot the dead body that was left here seven years ago."
Round on the park
The walking trail is a kilometre-long and 20 sculptures adorn the Stone Park, as the park is called. Green grass has grown on the artificially placed soil. The park's iron gates open to a pillar shaped from three intertwining fishes, behind is a prominently placed BBMP logo.
A head statue of Gautama Buddha has been placed between a fish and bison sculptures and it is there for peace, says Raju. “People come to the park to be at peace... There is no religious significance,” he adds.
There are also figures of chimpanzees and bears, much to the delight of little children. All the statutes have been made and bought from Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu. “The black stone is famous in Mahabalipuram.
It is the same stone used to build temples. The older it gets, the newer and shinier it looks,” he explains.
One of the main highlights of the park is a 40 sq ft. plot dedicated to farmers. All the traditional tools they use, including mortar, pestle, raagi grinders and stones used to produce oil, have been exhibited.
One of the oil-presses placed in the park was spotted in a village near the Subramanya temple in Ghati Subramanya. “A farmer had these and it was his father’s legacy," says Raju, adding, “I begged him for it but he was reluctant to sell it to me.
Once I told him about the park and promised him that his father’s name will be inscribed, he happily donated it.”
Just beside this exhibit is a play area for children with slides and monkey ladders. There is an open gym for senior citizens with pedals and hand gears. The older folks can also enjoy a game of Pallanguzhi, traditionally played with tamarind seeds, on a model set up in the park.
The Stone Garden in Bommanahalli, made from clearing a garbage dump, has a paper map of India spread across the grass, surrounded by marble pillars that throw 16 shades of coloured light in the evenings, starting 6.30 pm.
“After 15 days we plan to replace the paper map with a grass replica,” says Raju. The benches on the park are also made of stones and 15 trees in the park are sandalwood and badaam. A 12-feet fence shields the garden.
The park was built at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore.
Residents say
A picturesque sunset is guaranteed from the park as the walking trail opens to a higher ground. The once-shunned spot is now flooded with people visiting from all over the city. Govardhan Reddy and his brother Nagendra Reddy walks with his family including children. “The park comes as a huge relief for us. Elders can do their morning and evening rounds while children can play... a healthy life,” says Govardhan.
The foul stench is gone and there is an exercise area in its place. “The nearest park for us was in Vijaya Bank Layout which was quite a walk away,” says Navin Chandra, a resident of the area. “It’s incredible to see this death-trap turn into a serene park,” says V S Murthy.
The shops around the park are also doing well after the park’s opening. Jaya, who runs a condiment store, says that business was grim a year back but now more people are spotting her shop and walking in.
However, not all are happy.
A man selling corn says that he was asked to vacate his spot by the corporator and strictly warned from doing his business there. During its opening, the corn-seller walked away from the crowd saying that it is sad that he cannot set his cart even outside of the park. The Stone Park is open everyday at 5 am till 10.30 am and from 4.30 pm to 8 pm.