Govt apathy: Gandhi Hill loses sheen

Vijayawada: Gandhi Hill, which was developed to spread the message of Mahatma Gandhi, lost its sheen due to poor maintenance and paucity of funds. Once the monument was one of the important destinations for students, tourists and patriots.

Highlights:

• Mahatma Gandhi had visited the city first time in April 1921 and took part in a meeting with workers of Congress and patriots at footsteps of Gandhi Hill
• During his visit Gandhiji had finalised tri-colour national flag containing spinning wheel. After Independence, the patriots and philanthropists built the Gandhi Memorial on the hill
• Gandhi Hill is one of the popular destinations in Vijayawada
• Durga Prasad, Gandhi Hill Foundation secretary, says that Rs 5 crore is required to take up repairs and development works
• MP Gokaraju Ganga Raju, who is the president of foundation, has been trying to get funds from the Central government, he said

The government’s apathy and ideological differences between government departments and Gandhi Hill Foundation was one of the reasons for the negligence. According to sources, tourism, archaeology departments and Gandhi Foundation want to hold supervising power. The internal differences blocked the development plans of Gandhi Hill.

Earlier, Central Tourism Development Board had allotted Rs 3 crore during the tenure of the then Minister of State for Tourism Chiranjeevi for the development of Gandhi Hill, but only Rs 60 lakh was spent and remaining funds elapsed due to differences between the departments and foundation.

Gandhi Memorial, which was built on the hill is first in the country among seven stupas, which were built in various parts of the country. According to history, Mahatma Gandhi had paid a visit to the city first time in April 1921. During his visit, Gandhiji had finalised tri-colour national flag containing spinning wheel. After the Independence, the patriots and philanthropists built the Gandhi Memorial on the hill at 500 metres height.

The Gandhi Hill is one of the popular destinations in Vijayawada. The 16 metres tall Gandhi image was engraved on Gandhi Memorial rock stupa on the hill, but now Gandhi image was damaged.

The Gandhi Hill Memorial features several stone slabs that have been inscribed with the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. This apart, there is a well-stocked library that houses a large collection of books, a planetarium as well as the light and sound show that portrays the life and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. But unfortunately, everything is past now.

The library, which was planned as a research centre for scholars on Gandhian studies, was closed and the fate of planetarium is also same, which was inaugurated by Vice-President GS Pathak in 1971. The planetarium used to draw the attention of students from hundreds of schools in various parts of the state. An observatory, equipped with an astronomical telescope and astro-camera, was set up on the terrace of the library building, but it is not functional.

V Durga Prasad, Gandhi Hill Foundation secretary speaking to The Hans India said that Rs 5 crore is required to take up repairs and development works. He also said that MP Gokaraju Ganga Raju who is the president of foundation has been trying to get funds from the Central government.

He said that there were no differences with the government departments but the foundation demanded the tourism department to show the expenditure bills for works which were taken up in the past. Presently, the monthly expenditure which collects through tickets is Rs 40,000 and expenditure is Rs 60,000, he said.

By Patibandla Srinivas