One of the oldest Garden of Udaipur, famously known as Gulab Bagh is nowadays suffering due to the cold war between two departments, the so-called administrative champions of the city. 

Their argument is based on the administrative ownership of the garden, the confusion due to which is causing lack of care and safety in the garden.  Resultantly, Sandalwood smugglers are taking full advantage of this and the administrative officers are mere spectators even after knowing what is happening in front of their eyes.

Gulab Bagh occupies an important space not only in the hearts of the locals of the city but attracts foreign tourists as well.  The Gulab Bagh Zoo, Medicine park and Kamal Talai Chandan Badi form an integral part of the garden.  The Chandan Badi boasts of many Sandalwood trees, which provide a special fragrance to the garden and its surroundings, making the atmosphere more pleasant.

ChandanBadi is now losing its value due to oft recurring Sandalwood thefts and the resultant terror of the smugglers.

The Government had handed over  the Garden to Nagar Nigam two years back and had instructed them to look after the garden.  The Nagar Nigam (UMS) demands that they need full ownership rights, which means decision making powers on the care taking of the garden and complete ownership of all revenue that is derived from the garden.

At the same time, the PWD has taken its hands off the garden, after the caretaking was handed over to the Government.

Over the last one month more than ten Sandalwood trees from the garden have been stolen by the accused but no report has been lodged with the police.  This is happening because officials of the PWD and Garden Superintendents are placing the responsibility on each other.

When Mayor Rajni Dangi was approached she said, “We will look after the Garden and also take care of its safety, but first we need full ownership powers and don’t want any body’s interference in it”.

More over the PWD has removed it’s night guards from the garden from last two years while the UMC is yet to placeanyone for night patrolling in the garden. Thought the Garden Superintendent is aware of the situation, he refuses to lodge any complaint with the Police, saying that it is the UMS’s responsibility to take care of the Gardens safety.