Telangana: Maintenance of parks left to the wind in Mancherial

Most of the parks have become havens for boozers due to lack of security

Mancherial: Maintenance of children parks in different parts of the town is being neglected.

Six parks comprising walking tracks, play items for kids and open air gyms were established at Patha Mancherial, Reddy Colony, Hi-Tech City, Rajivnagar, Ramnagar and Garmilla, as part of beautification of the town in 2022 spending Rs 3.50 crore. Beautification of the bund of Ramuni Cheruvu was also taken up under the project at an estimated cost of Rs 3.50 crore.

However, most of the parks become havens for boozers due to lack of security at night. Waste plants and grass grew in some of the parks, posing a threat to visitors. Play items meant for children have become useless. Lighting system at some of the parks were damaged due to gales and storms. Dried leaves and garb are not being lifted, reflecting negligence of officials.

People are unable to visit the lung spaces, considering the plight of the parks. They are forced to prevent their children from using the facilities. They are depending on recreational centres operated by private persons, shelling out huge amounts.

Similarly, work on parks in Rajiv Nagar and Garmilla was halted on the mid way. Officials are drawing flak for failing to complete work on the parks. Locals urged the officials to make efforts to restart the works and to recreational facilities. They said that the children were relying on parks situated in surrounding colonies away from their homes.

Meanwhile, the beautification of Ram Cheruvu continues to drag on for three years, reportedly owing to a crunch of funds, irking morning joggers and visitors. Sitting arrangements, de-siltation, railing, greenery on the bund, LED lights, a high-mast light, Bathukamma ghats, parking area were proposed as part of the development and beautification of the tank with a deadline of four months.

A flex banner, put up by Ramuni Cheruvu Walkers’ association, greets joggers and visitors of the irrigation tank. It reads that they demand local public representatives and officials of the civic body to direct the executing agency to resume the beautification work on the bund which was abruptly stopped for a year.

When asked, municipal corporation commissioner Shivaji said that efforts were on to ensure maintenance of the parks and expedite beautification of the bund.