Bandipora’s Nishat Park Fountains Lie Defunct Despite Repeated Funding, Raising Questions on Planning and Accountability Constructed in the 1960s as part of a Master Plan envisioned by the then Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad, Nishat Park has long been regarded as the pride of Bandipora and a cherished recreational space for local residents. Over the decades, the park has served as a social and cultural hub, drawing families, youth, and visitors for leisure and community gatherings. However, concerns are mounting over the continued non-functionality of the park’s fountains, which were projected as a central aesthetic and recreational attraction during successive beautification drives. Despite significant public expenditure on infrastructure upgrades and landscaping, the fountains remain dry. Residents have questioned why, despite the availability of technical expertise within government departments, the water features have failed to become operational. Locals allege that repeated announcements of renovation and beautification have not translated into sustained functionality. “Funds have been spent, structures have been built, but there is no long-term maintenance plan,” said a local resident. “The fountains were meant to enhance the park’s appeal, but today they stand as symbols of neglect.”