Popular leisure haunts of the city operated by Hyderabad
Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) will remain closed for few
more days. They will be opened for visitors only after ensuring that
minimum basic security has been put in place. In the wake of the
Dilsukhnagar bomb blasts last Thursday, the HMDA had closed its public
spaces such as Lumbini Park, NTR Garden, Laserium and Sanjeevaiah Park.
The decision was taken to review the security at these places at the
behest of the city police.
On Tuesday, HMDA
Commissioner Neerabh Kumar Prasad had a review meeting with officials
concerned and it was decided to keep the facilities closed for some more
days. “We have decided to take a close look at security aspects and
allow visitors only after we are sure that at least minimum basic
security is in place,” an official said. At the same time, Mr. Prasad
directed the officials to have a comprehensive and multi-layered
security apparatus in place at these four popular leisure spots at the
earliest. For this purpose, a team of officials from the HMDA would be
interacting with the police officials on Wednesday. P. Rajender Reddy,
Director, HMDA Urban Forestry, said at present the available manpower
for Buddha Purnima Project Authority (BPPA) under which these four
facilities operate, stood at 158 including 27 ex-servicemen. “We will be
seeking the advice of the police on suitable security in terms of
equipment and personnel,” he said. The idea was to acquire metal
detectors, apart from installation of CCTV cameras. Lumbini Park which
was targeted by terrorists in the year 2007 was provided with some
equipment which in absence of maintenance had gone defunct.
Popular leisure haunts operated by HMDA to remain closed for a few more days
