Kochi: What was once a popular green space in the heart of the city has now become a neglected piece of land filled with overgrown grass and garbage. Panampilly Nagar’s Central Park, which was once one of the most visited parks in Kochi, is now in a state of dilapidation, fast becoming a dumping ground for waste, particularly from nearby eateries.

Despite being frequented by morning walkers, the park gives off the appearance of a long-abandoned space. The once lush central lawn has turned into a patchy grassland and sections of the compound wall have collapsed. No restoration or modernisation work has been undertaken for years.

Corporation officials allege that waste from the nearby ‘food street’ is being dumped inside the park. Ward councillor Anjana Ramesh said that food waste, including meat scraps from restaurants, is often discarded in the park during the night. She pointed out that while the GCDA has issued licenses to these eateries, complaints have been raised multiple times. “We’ve already warned the shops directly. The next step is to issue formal notices,” she added.

The dumping has created difficulties for the Corporation’s cleaning staff, who now have to deal with rotting food waste and litter. With nightlife thriving in the area and shops staying open late, it’s evident that some visitors are not using the public space responsibly. Abandoned food packets and plastic bottles are now a common sight.

Although the park is owned by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), the responsibility for its maintenance lies with the Kochi Corporation. The councillor said plans are in place to renovate and beautify the park, but no timeline has been set.