NewsMeter Impact: A year later, Nizampet's Pragathi Nagar residents get their park back from boozers
On Sunday morning, the residents of Pragathi Nagar woke up to see the park premises clean. The liquor bottles and glass pieces had been removed, and the signboard for the park that had been lying in one corner of the park for two weeks was back in its place.
By Nimisha S Pradeep Published on 22 May 2022 7:58 AM GMT
Hyderabad: When NewsMeter visited Haritha Haram park in Pragathi Nagar in Nizampet on 16 May, we found liquor bottles and broken glass pieces at the entrance of the park. But on Sunday morning, the residents of Pragathi Nagar woke up to see the park premises clean. The liquor bottles and glass pieces had been removed, and the signboard for the park that had been lying in one corner of the park for two weeks was back in its place.
Sai Teja, a social activist living in the area, had raised the issue of the sorry state of the park with the authorities. After NewsMeter published an article highlighting it, the CDMA director and additional collector directed the Nizampet Municipal Corporation (NMC) to address the residents' concerns.
Sai was happy to see the issue fixed after almost a year of complaining. He urged that the Cyberabad police take stern action against the offenders.
What were the residents' concerns?
According to the residents, Haritha Haram park was refurbished and reopened in October 2021. Till February 2022, it was open but afterward, for unknown reasons, it was closed. Two weeks ago, it was opened only to find the signboard removed. A big hole was drilled in the park, which the residents allege is being used by people for drinking. Interestingly, some people even come in the broad daylight to drink, say residents.
The residents had been complaining about the drinking menace to the municipality as well as the police since May 2021. The residents said the people who come to drink come to the park premises, sit and drink, and throw the bottles there and leave. The small and big glass pieces of liquor bottles hurt and injure the residents who go for a walk in the area.
Another concern was that the entire stretch of road had become less safe for women who liked to go for evening walks and for children who came out to play. Moreover, Sai had also explained to NewsMeter how carelessly the auto drivers come and drink here after a trip and go for another trip after drinking.
