Hyderabad: The lack of open spaces in and around the city is forcing citizens to hire resorts and other such venues to hold Karthika Vanabhojanam (community lunch).
Even though the state government has told several nodal agencies to develop forest blocks and develop 10 per cent of them into parks for citizens to have the community lunch during the holy month, not one of the blocks was ready this year.
Most places were heavily booked on Monday, which is Ekadashi, the eleventh day of Karthikam, and Friday, which is Karthika Pournami. Sharing his experience, Dr Kishan Rao, veterinary doctor and a resident of Hubsiguda said that he had tried to book a farm house to celebrate with family and friends during Ekadashi but could not find any to hire.
“I have been forced to book a resort on the outskirts of the city where the management does not allow us to cook. The tradition of Karthika Vanabhojanam has not been observed due to this.”
A. Rajeshwar Rao, a resident of Tirumalagiri, says he and his family regularly observe Vanabhojanam at a farmhouse located on the Shamirpet road. “This time, however, the farmhouse is not available; it has been booked by some others. We have failed to find any other farmhouse or resort. Some resorts do not allow customers to cook for themselves. We are planning to visit the Ananthagiri forest,” he said.
The plan is for 59 reserved forests to be modelled on the KBR National Park in Banjara Hills where a small portion of the forest, about 10 per cent or less, will be developed as a garden for the public and the remaining will be kept as a conservation zone where the public will not be allowed.
The departments involved in this endeavour are Urban Forestry (15 parks), HMDA (17 parks), Tourism Department (7 parks), TSIIC (11 parks), GHMC (3 parks), Forest corporation (4 parks) and HMRL (2 parks). The state government hopes that the development of urban parks in reserved forests will give citizens much-needed open spaces to relax in and celebrate small events, but as yet not even a survey or action plan has been prepared.
A senior officer of the urban forestry department said that once the model code of conduct came into force, development of these urban parks came to a halt and not even tenders have been invited.
But an HMDA official claimed, on condition of anonymity, that tenders were invited twice, on August 8 and September 10. He also said that the urban forests will be ready by the next Karthika Masam.
The government had issued a GO on May 30 this year, saying that ;urban parks’ would be developed in 59 of the 188 reserved forest blocks situated within HMDA limits. Thirty-seven of the proposed 59 urban parks will be developed by agencies other than the forest department — GHMC, HMDA, Hyderabad Metro Rail & Tourism department. Accordingly, the state government sanctioned '17.75 crore last week. The GHMC and HMDA’s Engineering wing will be taking up the periphery fencing work, while the rest of the work will be handled by the Urban Forestry wing.
Mr Hemanth from Leonia Holistic Destination, Shamirpet, said that they do have any special packages for Karthika Vanabhojanam. Mr Md Rawoof of Pleasant Farm in Moinabad said bookings had increased, and there were no extra charges.
