In line with the opening of marketplaces and railway stations, Dhanbad fitness fanatics are demanding the opening of parks, with the pre-condition of observing strict social distancing norms.
Some morning walkers and yoga practitioners have resumed activity outside the Rajendra Sarovar Park in the heart of the town, deprived of their daily dose of fresh air and greenery since the Covid pandemic-induced lockdown.
The area has turned out be a hotspot for morning walkers, especially elderly people in the past year, since the Dhanbad Municipal Corporation renovated the park.
Others, including youth have been known the frequent the spot during the evening for leisure.
“Since the lockdown, we are confined at our houses although we sometimes go out as a habit and make rounds around the park. We use masks and follow social distancing norms,” said Anand Chaurasia (45), talking to The Telegraph Online.
“We remain connected with each other on our WhatsApp group and share our whereabouts. It’s not the same as meeting someone while doing our rounds, which we could during the pre-lockdown period,” he said, adding that they demand the state government to allow the opening of parks by framing SOPs.
Sexagenarian Anil Mookim, a renowned chartered accountant of Dhanbad who is also a regular morning walker, said that he goes for morning walks near the park.
“I was a footballer in my youth and went to Asansol and Durgapur to play football. I started morning walks to keep myself fit for the last 30 years at different places but with the development of the Rajendra Sarovar, our area got a new avenue filled with lush greenery and some facilities for yoga practice also, which we have been missing since lockdown,” he said.
RP Singh (69) a retired area finance manager of Baghmara area of BCCL said that it has been a fortnight since he has resumed his morning walks while maintaining social distancing norms.
62-year-old Krishna Kumari, a government middle school teacher and resident of Jai Prakash Nagar locality at Dhanbad, said that she was looking forward to when things get back to normal.
“I used to go for morning walks at the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research park before the lockdown, but since the park has been closed, we now traverse the circular area outside the park. I hope that better days will return, when we can resume our daily morning schedule, going for walks at the same place together,” she said.
