Early morning tranquillity is a myth here. Smoke, dust and blaring horns are what the walkers are greeted to even at day break.
With rapid urbanisation and burgeoning population, green spaces have become a rarity in many parts of the L.B.Nagar Municipal Circle. While trees have been felled in great numbers over the years to make way for concretisation of landscape, very few parks and gardens are developed to compensate for the loss of vegetation.
Such is the condition in many parts of the GHMC East Zone, including Uppal, Nacharam, Mallapur, Mansoorabad, Dilsukhnagar, Kothapet, L.B. Nagar and Hayatnagar. Five years have passed since the inclusion of all these municipalities in GHMC, yet no considerable efforts are made towards development of greenery.
No space for walkers
“There is no space for walkers. Buses ply even in alleyways. A few colonies have developed their own parks, but they are usually small and crowded. Greenery is vital here, as this area is notorious for its traffic,” says A. Hayagreevachari, a retired school teacher from Nagole.
Forming part of city suburbs till two to three decades ago, the L.B.Nagar Circle has received a real estate fillip after the government as well as private employees began to develop housing colonies here.
Soon, it became the most sought-after residential locality for the urban middle-class due to its affordability and connectivity with the rest of the city. Mushrooming of schools and colleges increased the construction activity, resulting in heavy loss of greenery.
Though colonies are to allot mandatory space for parks, such space remains an eye-wash. Even where space is allocated, no planting has been done. The only noteworthy public park here was inaugurated on Saroornagar lake bund in 2007, though it does not stand to comparison with bigger parks in other parts of the city.
Even the planted area in avenues and on road dividers is negligible. If there is any greenery, it is to be found mostly in backyards, and in small stretches planted voluntarily outside apartment complexes.
“Not very long ago, thick vegetation marked the area. I still remember a big tamarind grove at the very place where the present HUDA Complex stands.
Now, hardly any vegetation is to be found even on road dividers and traffic islands along the National Highway,” rues K.S. Prasad, a resident of Telephone Colony.
The situation in Kapra and Uppal circles is even worse. The nearest park of any reckoning for these residents is in Habsiguda, which again is very crowded.
“Our area is very large, but devoid of any green space developed by municipal authorities. No government land has been allotted for park so far. For any modest outing, we would be forced to visit places far off such as Lumbini Park, or Sanjeevaiah Park,” says G.Anjan Bhagwan Das, a retired lecturer from Nacharam.
