A round table conference on ‘Swaraj maidan’ has decided to wage a legal battle, if required, to save the PWD grounds or Swaraj maidan, in the city.
The speakers, including former Minister Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao, said the maidan was a historical inheritance. Onus lies on people to protect it come what may. They also stressed on the need for a united struggle against the Government’s plan to turn it into Vijayawada Square.
They said there was not even an iota of truth in the claims of the Government it would create space for 17,000 people. The ground that could accommodate one lakh people and witnessed many historical political meetings, and annual fetes such as the book festival was being handed over to the private firms for reasons best known to the Government. How would the Government justify its proposals when the ground capacity was one lakh people, they asked.
The conference pointed out that the ground also catered to the needs of religious and spiritual meetings, political meetings, industrial exhibitions, rythu bazaar, a place to sell fire crackers and circus. Notwithstanding these facts, the Government was poised to develop it as a park. Where could these events be organised in the absence of open grounds in the city, they asked, adding, legal course of action would be initiated if the Government did not desist from its plans.
MCL Boddu Nageswara Rao, CPI(M) capital region convener Ch. Babu Rao, Congress leader Kolanukonda Shivaji, CPI city secretary Donepudi Sankar, Tax Payers Association secretary M. V.Anjaneyulu and others spoke.
The reasons best known to government handing over the ground to private firms
Speakers