Children in the city will have to wait awhile for play equipment to be installed in parks, for the Municipal Corporation is still looking for a suitable contractor for the job. Even though tenders have been called thrice, contractors have not shown interest in the project.

In July last year, the MC House approved the installation of multi-play equipment in 21 parks and green belts across the city and earmarked Rs 82.93 lakh for the purpose.

The chosen sites include Shanti Kunj in Sector 16, Cactus Park in Ram Darbar, Pink Cassia Garden in Sector 29, Poinsettia and Ixora Garden in Sector 11, parks in Dhanas, Dadumajra, Maloya, Mauli Jagran and the green belts in Sectors 37, 40, 42, 56, 43, 45, 44, 20, 19, 27, 26, 47 and 29.

Councillor Jatinder Bhatia said: “More than a year has passed since the proposal was approved. This has become a routine affair with the civic body — proposals are approved in the House, but no work gets done on the ground. Residents question us about the delays and we have no answers.”

Around two years ago, the first multi-play equipment was installed in Shivalik Park in Manimajra at a cost of Rs 7 lakh. Later, another set was installed in Sector 22.

Noticing the success of the project, the MC decided to install the equipment in all wards.

Earlier, most parks had single-play equipment like see-saws, swings or slides.

Councillor Harjinder Kaur said: “The equipment would have ensured fun activities for the children. The proposal envisages installing the play equipment in one corner of the green belts.”

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