Hyderabad: Sorry tale of two parks

• Development takes back seat

• GHMC cites lack of funds for delay in works

Hyderabad: The residents of Patrika Nagar Colony in Kondapur can boast of having two parks, but sadly they don't have a luxury of enjoying even a single park owing to their pathetic conditions. Rubbish, boulders and construction material make it impossible for anyone to visit either of the parks. If one park is frequented by stray cattle, the other is full of broken benches.

The absence of play equipment and walkways is keeping people away from visiting the parks.

According to the locals, there are two parks in their locality, and both are in poor condition. While the people struggle to find space to walk, there are no playing equipment for kids. The residents of the colony, home to more than 1,000 families have no place to go.

"In the evenings, many residents come out for walks and for children there is no playground," said Ravi Kumar, who has been living in the colony for the past 10 years.

"The civic body does not maintain the parks," said Neerja Gandhi, Deputy Director, Urban Bio-Diversity Wing Serilingampally Circle.

The locals allege the parks were now being used to dump construction debris and was also overgrown with grass.

"The dumping of building debris in parks is a major cause for concern," said Ajay Raj who is been living in Bhoopathirao Nagar for the last six years.

As of now, we are not taking any developments of parks due to fund crunch," said Deputy Director, UBD Wing Secunderabad Circle Ram Mohan.