Trees, plants, grass dried up due to lack of irrigation facilities
Avtar Bhat
SAMBA, May 14: The trees and flowers in the famous Rs 2.40 crore Veer Bhumi Park built in the memory of the India’s brave hearts near Maheshwar military area on the Jammu Pathankot National Highway in Samba are going to wither away as the park is facing water scarcity for last many months.
Due to the lack of irrigation facilities, the beautiful trees, ornamental and flowers plants are on the verge of withering away. The fountains installed in the park for attracting visitors have been closed and the beautification work is also getting badly affected due to lack of water supply, sources said.
Locals said the green grass planted in the small lawns of the park has also dried up. Due to the lack of water supply, there is no arrangement of drinking water for the tourists visiting the park. This has resulted into a constant decrease in the number of daily visitors.
They said that Veer Bhumi is the only means of recreation for the people in entire Samba town. The water supply in the park has been completely affected for over last seven months due to which the trees and plants in the park are drying up and there is no arrangement for drinking water for the visitors also.
They said the main reason behind the problem is that the water supply pump installed in the park has developed a snag and it was not repaired by the concerned Department despite repeated pleas by the people.
It may be recalled that the foundation of the Veer Bhoomi Park in Samba town was laid in the year 1997 by the then Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah. However, in the year 2012, the Floriculture Department started the construction of the park. The Park is spread over 46 Kanals of land which was donated by the people in honour of war heroes.
The park houses a 35 feet high War Memorial which was built inside the park in memory of the martyrs who laid down their lives for nation. The war memorial is the main centre of attraction for the visitors. The names of the bravehearts who attained martyrdom in different wars are written in the golden letters in the park so that the coming generations can remember their national heroes and get inspired by their valour and sacrifices. Along with this, a statue of the Second Lieutenant, Arun Khetrapal, who sacrificed his life in the Basantar river of Samba during the Indo-Pak war of 1971 at a young age, has also been installed in the park.
These martyrs are remembered by organizing tribute ceremonies twice a year. The Veer Bhumi Park is not only pride of Samba but for the people of entire Jammu region as it exhibits the daring devil tales of warriors of the area who laid down their lives for nation.
The people of Samba have voluntarily donated their ancestral land to build the Park and it was developed as an excellent tourist spot where flowers and trees of different species were planted, said Ranvir Singh a local resident of Samba town.
Ravinder Singh Lavlu former Sarpanch Kehli Mandi Samba said the Summer season has started and hundreds of people from Samba and nearby areas used to come to Veer Bhumi Park with their families. But there is no charm in park at present to attract the visitors as the plants, flowers and fountains have dried up and no drinking water is available there for the visitors.
When contacted Director Floriculture, Vivek Sharma said that the bore well has developed some problem and the Department is going to repair the same and water supply will be restored soon in the park to make it properly functional.
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