Hyderabad High Court stays Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park entry fee hike

Hyderabad: Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao of the Hyderabad High Court on Thursday granted respite to the walkers of Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park at Jubilee Hills by staying the GO issued by the Telangana government for enhancing entry fee into the park.

The Nature Park Walkers Association, represented by its secretary Rahul Singhal, moved the petition challenging the GO issued by the Forest Department on July 19 to enhance the entry fee and also pressurising the existing annual pass holders to pay the enhanced difference in amount from July 1.

He said more than 2,000 people paid the annual fee as per the old charges and authorities have been restricting their entry into the park till they pay the difference in amount.

The petitioner said that on one hand the government has been spending crores of rupees on public health while on the other hand it issued orders to collect higher entry fee from those who come for a walk to maintain good health.

The judge directed the counsel representing the Telangana government to submit an affidavit by explaining the reasons and rationale behind increase in the entry fee.

In the meanwhile, walkers are to be allowed into the park by collecting the old fee and carry on walking during morning and evening hours