Over 44,000 trees wither in Thaltej oxygen park due to lack of maintenance

More than 44,000 trees have dried up due to lack of water in Oxygen Park in Ahmedabad’s Thaltej, exposing serious lapses in maintenance by authorities.

The park, inaugurated four years ago by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, was developed as part of an ambitious green initiative. However, within a short span, over 50% of the 88,000 trees planted using the Miyawaki method have withered, raising concerns over the sustainability of such projects.

Despite heavy spending under the Mission Million Trees initiative, the park’s condition has deteriorated significantly.

According to sources, the agency responsible for the project stopped maintaining the park after its contract period ended. For the past six months, no regular watering or upkeep has been carried out.

Authorities have also failed to maintain proper records of how many trees have dried up or been removed.

Moreover, the park has not been cleaned for a long time, with overflowing dustbins and damaged children’s play equipment. There are also allegations that nearby builders have taken illegal water connections from the park.

Adding to the concern, the park gates reportedly remained locked for over six months, making it inaccessible to the public.

The incident has raised serious questions about the use of taxpayers’ money, with critics alleging that authorities are efficient in launching projects but fail in their long-term maintenance.