Bhubaneswar, January 30: Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra on Friday directed the department to prepare a comprehensive, time-bound action plan for the beautification, modification and holistic improvement of parks across all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of Odisha.

While reviewing key urban initiatives, the Minister referred to his recent visit to Indira Gandhi (IG) Park, expressing deep dissatisfaction over its condition. He noted that similar issues persist in several urban parks and voiced serious concern over visible neglect, poor maintenance and deterioration of infrastructure.

He emphasised that parks are not merely recreational spaces but vital social, environmental and cultural assets that reflect the overall quality of urban governance and contribute significantly to citizens’ health and well-being.

The Minister laid special emphasis on the upkeep of statues installed in parks, stating that statues of eminent personalities and historical figures must be preserved with dignity and due respect. He observed that negligence in this regard amounts to disregard for public sentiment and cultural heritage.

Taking a stern view of administrative lapses, Dr. Mahapatra warned that strict disciplinary action would be initiated against officials and agencies found responsible for substandard maintenance or dereliction of duty.

He made it clear that accountability would be fixed wherever shortcomings are identified.

The Minister directed the department to issue instructions to all ULBs, defining responsibilities, timelines and quality benchmarks for park rejuvenation. He also called for regular monitoring, periodic inspections and adequate budgetary planning to ensure sustainable improvements rather than one-time cosmetic measures.