HYDERABAD: As parks become a necessity for a healthy living, residents of Ramky Pearl, a gated community in Kukatpally, one of the most densely populated areas of the city, are fighting tooth and nail to get a park developed on an open space inside their community.
Although the open space, located in west side of gated community measuring about one acre was earmarked as a park in a revised layout of Ramky Pearl approved in 2010, no park has been developed yet.
Ramky Pearl Owners Welfare Association (RPOWA) alleges that the reason behind this is a group of people of the 72 original land owners who formed Godavari Developers and got the gated community developed with help from Ramky. These partners of Godavari Developers are interested in selling the open space as plots and make more money, alleges RPOWA. Speaking to Express, RPOWA members claimed that when its members were planting saplings inside the said open space on Wednesday, some partners of Godavari Developers prevented them from doing so by force, using abusive and threatening language.
On the same day, RPOWA president Dr E V Ranga Reddy and general secretary N Bhanu Murthy submitted a complaint to Kukatpally police seeking police protection for another plantation activity they plan to conduct on Sunday.
Poll code excuse
Ramakrishna Mashetty, former president of RPOWA said: “In June 2018 a letter from Commissioner of Town Planning Section in GHMC said that the layout approved in 2010 is final, confirming that the open space has to be developed as a park. There are no pending legal issues. However, even after that park was not developed by GHMC. Last month GHMC said park cannot be developed because election model code of conduct is in place.”
RPOWA general secretary Bhanu Murthy said: “We are ready to develop the park with our own funds. The model code of conduct would not apply to us. All we need is protection from police or GHMC officials so that we are not attacked by partners of Godavari Developers again.”
RPOWA members allege that some partners of Godavari Developers are trying to sell the open space meant to be developed as a park, as plots to gullible customers. The members told Express that in the last few weeks they have been approached by some potential buyers enquiring about the legality of the land. Attempts by Express to contact Shyam Sundar Reddy, a representative of Godavari Developers and one of the persons to whom the letter from Town Planning Section of GHMC was addressed, proved futile.
GHMC’s assurance
When contacted, GHMC Kukatpally Zonal Commissioner, J Shankaraiah said: “There is no need to worry over any portion of the land. GHMC has sanctioned the works to develop the park but due to election code of conduct the works could not be taken up. Soon after the polls, the park will be developed.”
He also alleged that some members of RPOWA have vested interests and personal problems with the Godavari Developers and hence are making an unnecessary issue over the park.