The Hindu       18.03.2011

HMDA focuses on improving parks

Beautification works: Workers giving finishing touches to a park as part of 100 days action plan.

Fully refurbished and thoroughly improved green spaces are all getting in place in and around the city for those seeking a breath of fresh air and some leisure and comfortable moments in the parks maintained by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA).

In last two months, the Authority had put its focus on improvement of different parks managed by it and came up with freshly laid lawns, flowering plants, replacement of pavers where needed and also an enhanced visitor amenities.

The initiative was taken as part of 100 days action plan with focus on some 25 small and big HMDA parks at an estimated cost of Rs.42 lakh. However, according to the Urban Forestry division officials, the refurbishment works particularly those related to lawns, hedges, shrubs and plants were almost complete well in advance of the March-end deadline. “These works were completed at a cost of around Rs.36 lakh,” an official said.

Some of the major parks taken care include the sprawling K.B.R. National Park where the old lawns, shrubs and hedges were replaced at an estimated cost of Rs.10 lakh. “Lawns that were in shade got damaged and we now replaced the same with shade lawns,” said P. Rajender Reddy, Director, Urban Forestry.

The HMDA has also taken up the work related to Shastripuram Colony Park which was lying incomplete for some time. As part of the present initiative, it has come up with 1,000 sft fresh lawn area here and gave it a new look. Even the medians that are maintained by it were taken up for imparting an improvised look.

At the same time, the Engineering Wing of the HMDA has been involved in the project and taking care of works related to it. From replacement of worn out pathways, mending broken fences or repairing visitors facilities including toilets have been going on in these parks for the last two months.