Sheikh Nadeem
The famous botanical garden located in the Kokernag area of southern part of Anantnag district has turned into a playground for dogs and pups.
Botanical Garden, Kokernag is rich in varieties of flora and fauna. It has varieties of beautiful alpines, roses, tropical plants and around one thousand enchanting and charming plants and trees.
This garden, blessed with serene beauty, lies against the backdrop of high and thick pine forests. It is very well-known not only in Kokernag but in entire Jammu Kashmir.
A huge number of people, including the locals as well as outsiders, come here to enjoy the natural beauty and the fresh breeze.
On one side, the concerned department claims that they have maintained Kokernag park and kept it neat, clean, and attractive for visitors but on the other side, it has now turned into a playground for dogs and pups.
The central govt. as well as the UT administration has taken up measures to boost tourism sector but the employees of the concerned department seem to be in deep slumber.
Several dogs were seen playing with their pups in the garden. Meanwhile, gardens are considered as backbone of the Tourism department and important source of economy. The visitors should be able to enjoy the serenity of the garden without feeling threatened by dogs or other animals.
The Councilor MC Kokernag Sheikh Prince, talking to the media persons said that the department should utilize proper funds generated from revenue, for the beautification of the garden. He added that the lights were also defunct, which caused immense problems for the tourists.
In this regard, when The Kashmiriyat talked to Assistant Floriculture officer Asif Ahmad Ietoo, he said that due to damaged fencing, the dogs would enter the garden premises. “We have already sent a proposal of recommendation and within a month, we will get the garden fenced properly so that the visitors don’t face any problems,” he said.
Meanwhile, he also appealed to the general public and the tourists to use dustbins to get rid of the waste.