Rajya Sabha MP Mahesh Poddar has written to the State Urban Development Minister C P Singh expressing concern over the Urban Development Department’s decision of constructing a market and parking area at the Bakri Bazar, the only open ground in Ranchi’s busy Upper Bazar locality.

“The city is fast changing into a jungle of concrete. At the time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi too is stressing the importance of playgrounds for children, the decision of constructing a market and parking zone on Bakri Bazar Ground will take away the only open space the children of the locality have,” Poddar said in a letter to Singh on Wednesday.

Poddar said that he has written several letters to Singh and officials of the department concerned, highlighting the issue in the past. He said that the Agarwal Sabha has proposed to develop Bakri Bazar as an open ground and he was ready to generate capital from his MPlad fund for the same.  

“I do not know who is thinking of setting up a concrete market and parking zone in a goat market, but I have a strong opposition to it,” said Poddar, asking Singh to intervene in the matter.

He also suggested Singh to construct an underground parking zone if it was an absolute necessity for the place.

Poddar, in his letter, also highlighted the poor condition of sewerage and drainage system in the locality and asked Singh to take effective steps for improving the drainage system in the “cramped” colony.  “I think you are the most suitable person to intervene in this matter and make changes in development plans in a bid to ensure better facilities not only for the adults of the locality but also for the children,” he said.