The Birsa Munda Park’s employees and shopkeepers are facing the economic stress of the state-wide lockdown due to its closure since April 22.

The staff members including eight gardeners, five swing operators, two parking lot staff, two counter clerks, two toy train operators and 1 electrician have not received their salaries for the last two months.

The shopkeepers at the park, with almost negligible income since March last year, are being asked to pay rent during the lockdown.

“We had to undergo a similar situation during the first phase of lockdown when we faced salary discontinuation from August 2020 to November 2020 and again faced a similar situation from December 2020 to March, 2021,” said Subal Mahto, one of the oldest staff members at the park.

“Barring the brief solace of around 52 days from March 1 2021 to April 22, 2021 we are facing financial difficulties during lockdown since the first phase of lockdown of March 2020,” said Subal and added the park maintenance has also been affected during lockdown due lack of provisions like diesel.

“We were very hopeful for better days of park to return ever since April 2021 when regular shows of the newly installed laser fountain was launched in the park but all our hopes were dashed on ground with beginning of second phase of lockdown since April, 22, 2021,” said Paresh Mali a gardener of the park.

Bittu Sao, a shop keeper of the park said, “We are the worst victim of the lockdown as despite the continuous closure of over 11 months, we are being compelled to pay the rent during the closure period.”

“We have written to both Dhanbad Municipal Corporation and park management requesting for the waiver of the rent of lockdown period and if no steps are taken we will be compelled to approach the chief minister in Ranchi to intervene in the issue,” said Sao.

“Dhanbad Municipal Corporation expressed its inability to pay salaries due to lack of funds and we are waiting for their response to the salary crisis and will have to ultimately approach the district administration,” said park manager Niwas Kumbhkar.

Established in 2009 on 25 acres of land at Nawadih area of Dhanbad at the instruction of then Deputy Commissioner, Ajay Kumar Singh the park is equipped with a host of facilities including seven swings, 10 slides, a toy train, a vortex (Illusion ride), a caterpillar, a dragon train, a Dhum Jhula, a triple slide, six seesaw, one tree swing beside the seating arrangements in the form of six FRP recliners and 20 concrete recliners.