Shopian park: A green space grappling with substance abusers and truancy

Shopian, Apr 02: A park in the Bona Bazar area of south Kashmir’s Shopian town has become a safe haven for drug addicts.

Despite its scenic appearance with a gurgling stream flowing in the middle of it, the park is fast turning into a haven for substance abuse.

Additionally, the area has become a safe space for truant school and college students.

Civil society members and residents are calling for increased vigilance and intervention to restore the park's real purpose as a recreational space for the community.

Mitha Gatoo, a prominent civil society member from the area, told Greater Kashmir that they brought the issue to the notice of authorities umpteen times but no concrete action has been taken leaving residents dejected.

“With no vigilance of authorities, such spaces have become a nuisance for public”, said Gatoo.

In November 2021, Gatoo, along with other civil society members, launched a campaign against drug addiction in the area, which compelled authorities to keep a vigil in the park.  However, after a few months, the monitoring waned, and the space was again used for illicit activities.

Gatoo also said that the abandoned municipal shops at Batapora Bust Stand have also become a safe haven for substance abuse.

“These shops usually remain cluttered with syringes, bottles and wrappers of psychotropic drugs used by the addicts," he said.

The civil society members have appealed to the concerned authorities to keep a strict vigil on such spaces.

“Police have undoubtedly played a crucial role in curbing the menace, but much more needs to be done,” said the civil society member.

He said that municipal authorities should also monitor the activities in the public parks and other spaces maintained by them.

“We are caught in the grip of drug abuse and closed-door seminars won’t help unless we maintain active ground level vigilance”, said Gatoo.

Asadullah, Secretary, Municipal Council (MC) Shopian told Greater Kashmir that the park was not developed by the MC.

He, however, said that the second storey of the MC shops in Batapora was pulled down as the tenants had constructed it without prior permission. “The MC will look into the matter”, he added.