SRINAGAR: The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) has voiced serious concern over the increasing misuse of public playgrounds and open spaces in Kashmir, warning that it deprives children of recreation and causes lasting environmental harm.
EPG Convenor Faiz Ahmad Bakshi said many playgrounds, especially in Srinagar, are being turned into parking lots, event venues, and commercial spaces. “Playgrounds are for children, not for parking, stalls, or social functions. Such misuse damages the turf and natural surface,” he said.
Citing Bakshi Stadium as an example, Bakshi noted that the Rs 50 crore football facility is now used for cricket and non-sporting events, undermining youth sports development. He also mentioned the Polo Ground and S.P. College ground, which are often used for stalls and parking, making them unsafe and unplayable.
Bakshi warned that the loss of open spaces is contributing to youth alienation and social ills, urging authorities to investigate the repeated misuse of major grounds and protect green areas. “Once the natural surface and green cover are gone, restoration is nearly impossible,” he cautioned.
