Tree huggers, eco-warriors protest conversion of Sainikpuri children’s park into tennis court

Hyderabad: Braving a cold Sunday morning, green enthusiasts gathered in large numbers to protest the conversion of Sainikpuri GHMC children’s park into a tennis court complex.

People of all age groups who wanted to preserve the children’s park and its ecological significance within the society, from senior citizens to the middle-aged to young children, gathered at the park to register their protest.

One of their major protest points included asking the GHMC to stop the Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) from chopping trees which are more than 100 years old. These trees provide large canopies of shade under which children play and relax. The chopping of more than 50 per cent of branches witnessed so far has not only led to a decrease in cover but also made the magnificent natural structures unstable.

Protect green spaces

Sainikpuri is one of the green lungs of Secunderabad and hence it is important to protect its green spaces against privatisation and profit-mongering, its residents urged.

Prominent members of the society such as Susie Tharu, Manogya Reddy, GS Chandrashekar, Pankaj Sethi and many others from the Armed Forces participated in the protest. Voices against the razing of the park were not limited to people from Sainikpuri. Many green warriors across the city such as Medha Kholi, who is a part of Sainikpuri Reads and Viswa who moved from Manikonda to Sainikpuri, gathered at the park and discussed the importance of saving common green spaces as a necessary means to keep themselves and the city healthy.

Children, who came with placards that read ‘Tree Hugger’, hugged the trees as a mark of the protest, emulating the Chipko movement, against demolishing trees and their love for trees they have known all their life. “There were 30 types of birds which we have found on these trees. You can now see the sun in the park which was not the case earlier when it was completely covered with trees,” said Susie Tharu.

Chopping of branches

The Armed Forces Co-operative Housing Society (AFCOHS) park now has its oldest tree branches being chopped off mercilessly. These huge trees which have wide roots in the park are now being filled with sand and concrete as the place is being readied for a tennis court.

The park had a play area for the children and was often used by the residents to spend time playing with their children. Parents would also bring their children for tree climbing. It was an informal area for playing badminton.

No permission to cut trees, says GHMC

The GHMC and the forest department have categorically stated that there is no permission to chop off the branches. The park is being maintained by AFCOHS and the society stated that they also did not permit to cut the branches.

Manogya Reddy, a resident of AFCOHS, said, “The proposal was placed to the department in September 2023. The residents committee meeting rejected the proposal but the government departments were told that the residential committee has agreed to chop the branches. We are now going to have one more meeting of AFCOHS soon after this protest.”

The committee divided over change

Two to three members of the committee want the park to be developed into a tennis court, while the rest don’t want it.

Since it is a GHMC park, it has always been open to the residents of other adjoining colonies of Sainikpuri and Kapra and not only AFCOHS. With the tennis court, the place will only be used by those who play tennis and others will not be allowed. These are common places and they need protection from being privatised. These attempts to convert a GHMC public park into a private tennis court are not acceptable, echoed residents.

Call to get more involved

The way forward involves rallying more residents of Sainikpuri and adjoining Kapra colonies to visit the park. Use the park for walking and make it a common area for playing for children, people are being told. Residents have also planned to donate saplings to make sure that the green cover is rebuilt in the park.