Converting Sainikpuri Children’s Park into Tennis Complex: AFOCHS residents to stage Chipko style protest

Hyderabad: Residents of the Armed Forces Officers Co-operative Housing Society (AFOCHS) in Sainikpuri are gearing up for a symbolic 'Chipko' movement on January 7 to protest converting Sainikpuri GHMC Children’s Park into a Tennis Complex.

The movement, inspired by the famous environmental protests in Uttarakhand, is a visual expression of residents' concerns over what they term as 'brutal pruning and/or uprooting' in the Sainikpuri Park area.

Manognya Reddy, Shankar Melkote, G S Chandrashekar and Susie Tharu, among others, are actively leading the movement and protesting the unauthorized actions in Sainikpuri Park.

Reddy explained the genesis of the dispute, stating, “Initially when they mooted the idea, there was a lot of opposition. Later, they called for the General Body meeting, where they said the tennis court complex was being ‘donated’ and would be maintained by the society. Senior citizens opposed it at the meeting too, but as the meeting was a day-long affair, many of them could not stay through it. The resolution was passed without much resistance in the end.”

Following the resolution, the Management Committee swiftly initiated the transformation of the park area, resulting in the chopping of branches and the creation of a concrete barrier inside, violating GHMC park norms.

Tharu emphasized the residents' dissatisfaction, stating, “They are bulldozing all our objections to carry out their mission, which is unacceptable. We have taken inspiration from the fight for Chevella Banyans, to protect our trees.”

Chandrashekar in a call to all green warriors has given out a statement "The trees and parks in this area are a vaulable inheritance and we have a responsibility to preserve, nurture and increase our green cover. We no longer want cutting or indiscriminate pruning of trees on roads and public places such as parks. We are against the conversion of public parks to private play areas. Recent incidents in Sainikpuri have been disturbing and heartbreaking! In the case of trees posing a hazard action can be taken with due permission and pruned under expert supervision. We also propose to ask for volunteers to conduct a tree census and photograph, number and geotag trees in the wider Sainikpuri area. On your way to the Children's Park please also look at the area behind Lakshmi Narayana temple, abutting 1st Avenue, where decades-old green cover area has been bulldozed and leveled for archery practice."

Chandrashekar says, "This is a call for all those interested in protecting and expanding the green cover of Sainikpuri by assembling on 7 Jan 2023 at 7 am in the AFOCHS Sainikpuri Children's Park on the 2nd Avenue-2nd Main Road Crossing. Invoking the tradition established by Himalayan women to save their forests, we will hug (Chipko) the trees, mourn the brutal pruning and/or uprooting that has taken place in Sainkpuri Park areas and take a vow to seriously protect our heritage of greenery."

Office bearers of the AFOCHS have chosen not to provide explanations, asserting that oral permission was obtained from the GHMC’s zonal commissioner.

In response, GHMC’s Urban Biodiversity officials conducted a site inspection, confirming the removal of weed growth and waste dump, along with the pruning of tree branches. Chief Horticulture Officer, Sunanda, has alerted the District Forest Officer about the violation.

The residents' Chipko movement has gained traction as a potent visual representation of their commitment to preserving the environment. Beyond the symbolic gesture, residents also plan to call for volunteers to conduct a tree census and photograph, number, and geotag trees in the wider Sainikpuri area, further demonstrating their dedication to the cause.

The controversy prompts essential reflections on the balance between development and environmental conservation, with residents urging unity to safeguard the green spaces that define the unique character of Sainikpuri. As the Chipko movement gains momentum, the AFOCHS community faces crucial decisions about responsible development within their precincts.