Crores of rupees that were spent on green gyms across the city have been sent down the drain, as several green gym facilities have fallen into disrepair. The project included Rs 13 crore from funds meant for Project Affected People (PAPs) of mining projects, apart from extra allocations through funds of various Members of Parliament (Mps) and Legislators. The issue had earlier come under scrutiny of the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court after questions were raised over the diversion of welfare funds under the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY), a scheme intended to improve healthcare, drinking water facilities, education, pollution control measures and other essential infrastructure for communities affected by mining activities. Across several areas, gym equipment can be seen with peeling paint, rusted structures, bent beams, damaged benches and broken machinery. At a park near Ambazari Layout in Pandhrabodi, the green gym is in a dilapidated condition, with peeling paint and damaged equipment. Large concrete pipes have also been left lying unsecured beside the gym. Children playing nearby could accidentally climb or fall from them. A local resident, requesting anonymity, claimed that he had once contacted the NMC to tell them about the bad condition of these gym equipment, and recieved the reply “It is just paint. How does it matter if the machine is working effectively?”

 

Expressing his bewilderment, the resident told ‘The Hitavada’, “It seems their definition of maintainence is very flawed. Are they only going to fix the infrastructure if it becomes dangerous?” In Daga Layout, the green gym inside their local park has remained inaccessible due to prolonged boundary wall construction work. According to locals, the park has been sealed entirely while the pace of construction remains slow and inconsistent so despite having a green gym, no one in the area can access it. Many Citizens have questioned whether any thought was put into the large sums spent on these projects that could have been utilised more effectively, particularly at a time when the city continues to face pressing civic and infrastructure concerns in several localities. “Money from MP and MLA funds could have gone towards roads, drainage systems, public healthcare facilities, or other basic infrastructure issues that people struggle with daily,” Prakash Vorah, a resident of Daga Layout, alleged. Citizens further argued that while public fitness infrastructure is important, the lack of regular upkeep has reduced many of these green gyms to symbolic projects with little real utility for residents.