Vijayawada: The fate of PWD grounds has come to light when CM's camp office has been set up nearby. Though it is in the heart of the city and the only venue for recreation and playing of games, it is being used for other purposes. Actually, the ground was witness to various public meetings, including those attended by prime ministers and chief ministers in the past.
But some parts of the PWD grounds was allotted for various other purposes against its original allocation without taking official plan from Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) or any official authority and finally it has been reduced to half its size.
Similarly, now some area in the remaining part of grounds may be allotted for various other purposes including vehicles parking as the CM’s camp office is nearby. In this backdrop, people raised concern over the developments and recently former MLA Adusumilli Jayaprakash had filed a PIL in the High court against the structures which have already occupied almost 50 per cent of the grounds.
Moreover, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) confirmed the former MLA’s petition that no structure in the ground is having any approval from the civic body for establishing their offices.
The PWD grounds is popularly known as Swarajya Maidan was formed originally in 21.36 acres. The master plan of erstwhile VGTM-VUDA also confirmed the allocation. But as per recent reports, various government and private organisations have occupied almost 50 per cent of the area. Right from Rythu bazaar, irrigation offices, bungalows for officials, electricity department office, fire station, private juice canteen, quarters and one private college are in the grounds and almost half the area in the grounds is with full of these structures.
As per the zonal development plan, the entire land having roads on all the four sides was earmarked as recreational use zone - open playground. It is the only huge open space available in the heart of Vijayawada city.
It is being used by the general public as a playground, lung space for morning and evening walks, social activities and further exhibitions, circus, food festival and textile expos. Former MLA A. Jayaprakash said that the government should remove all the structures and protect the valuable space for public utility.
