The city's 54th, the Akota garden will be the first one the Vadodara Municipal Corporation has built on a land-fill site. Spread over almost 2.5 acres, the garden will cost approximately Rs 2.75 lakhs. Congress councillor Abdulbhai Patel contributed Rs 2 lakhs for the compound wall from his quota, while the administration has borne the cost of the soil and other materials.

``An eyesore sometime ago, the garbage dumping site is now a sight for sore eyes'', says Ayub M Patel, a resident of the area, while Abdul Mogha is happy local children finally have a place to play.

Such reactions, even before the park opens formally, appears to vindicate Parks and Gardens director Mohanbhai Patel's idea to develop land-fill sites into places. ``During an environment technology transfer programme in 1997, I saw the Japan government utilising garbage dumping sites to plant trees'', he told Express Newsline.

Municipal Commissioner G R Aloria, too, is all praise for the concept. ``It'll be a pleasant respite from the foul smell'', he says.

But the project was no cake-walk. ``Heat generated by the decomposing solid waste actually burnt the lawns and saplings'', says Patel, adding that the several layers of red soil had to be laid before the trees could take root.

Dismissing fears of the park triggering health problems, Patel points out that the solid waste would decompose fast as the ground would now receive more water.

But while the VMC maybe blowing its own trumpet, Akota residents are aware that it is only honouring its part of a deal. ``Long ago, when the villagers handed over the village to the VMC, it was on the condition that the civic body would construct a garden, a water tank and a playground'', says Abbas Khanpuri, a local resident.

Even as the VMC is keeping part of the deal, it is trying to rope in contributions for the park's stone benches from nearby housing societies. It also plans to plant 100 saplings, in addition to the 150 already planted, and put up a replica of the Chamradharani statue -- excavated in Akota several years ago -- at the main entrance.