Kalabharathi a death knell for vendors

The NTR Stadium near Indira Park is chock-a-block with people of different age groups on a Sunday. The 14-acre open land virtually turns into a playground for hundreds of people living in the vicinity but with the Telangana Government’s decision to build a multi-theatre complex, Telangana Kalabharathi at NTR Stadium, it will not be long for these people to look for another place for their Sunday rendezvous.

Likewise life of 25 odd vendors at Dharna Chowk too hangs in the balance. Uppalaiah sells peanuts for a living and makes it to Dharna Chowk early in the morning. “We are worried once Kalabharathi is built, we will lose customers. With dharnas happening every day we are assured of customers and on Sundays, the business trebles,” he says.

While the State Government is hastening the process of transferring the land from GHMC to the Department of Culture, there is no clarity on where social organisations and associations would stage protests. Ashwin Yarlagadda, social activist, said, “Dharna Chowk is a perfect location as it is close to the Assembly and is right in the centre of the city.

It becomes easy for people even from villages to assemble here. The government should also make arrangements to stage protests.” Recollecting the past protests, A Sathi Reddy, general secretary, Telangana Auto Drivers Samakhya, says, “The strategic location of Dharna Chowk makes protests more meaningful. Just last week we took out a rally from Sundarayya Vigyana Kendram to Dharna Chowk.

It is convenient for all as there is ample space and people can protest without causing inconvenience to public.” Stating the need for a cultural centre A Prabhakar, a staffer at Ravindra Bharathi said. “People should welcome the decision of a new cultural centre as the population has increased manifold and Ravindra Bharathi can take just that much.

A cultural centre that can cater to the needs of Telangana artistes which is world-class has to be lauded.” Uncertainty on the livelihood of the people who depend at Dharna Chowk which abuts the NTR Stadium is worrisome. The people who would visit the 100 crore budgeted cultural complex would not care to buy peanuts from a vendor said Durga, a women’s rights activist and researcher at the University of Hyderabad.