Parks of the Hyderabad: Jalagam Vengala Rao Park

Jalagam Vengala Rao park, popularly known as JVR Park, is located between Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills and spread over 10 acres. The Park is maintained by GHMC authorities. It is a manmade green-crater with one small pond located inside it.

There is a walking track around the centre, a dedicated play area for children with slides, rocket elephant, climber, seesaw, merry-go-round and swings. A small cafeteria section houses few arcade games for all ages.

The Park opens daily from 5.00 am to 8.00 am for walkers and from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm for visitors throughout the week with the nominal entrance fee of Rs 5 per individual and Re 1 for children. The major landmarks are Hotel Taj Krishna, GVK One Shopping Mall. TSRTC buses are available to all parts of the city. The Secunderabad Railway Station is less than 10 km away and the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is 35 km away.

History

The park was opened to public on August 2002. It is named after a former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Jalagam Vengala Rao (1973 to 1978). The area was Anugu Kunta Lake earlier.

Problems

According to regular walkers, the development works of the park are at snail pace. People are not able walk in peace due to stink of the polluted lake. The GHMC authorities need to take up cleansing of the tank water on war footing and prevent inflow of drain water of the surrounding localities. Toilets are not usable and there is no drinking water facility to the park users. The play area for children is partially broken and needs to be repaired.

Somesh Kumar former commissioner of GHMC had taken steps to clean the water at a cost of Rs 90 lakh, which included Rs 65 lakh from HMWSSB funds. The biodiversity officials are planning to provide basic amenities to morning walkers and also supply sports material to children.

By:Ch Saibaba