Kakinada: The reason behind having parks in building complexes and leaving 10 per cent of the land free of buildings when a colony was planned was to allow room for its future development.
But illegal constructions are coming up on vacant sites belonging to the Kakinada Municipal Corporation and parks in the name of development and as a canny way to meet the maintenance cost of such parks and colonies. Some of the residential colonies are even planning to construct structures in the parks in the city, which now bears the tag of ‘smart city’.
Many parks and government sites have some construction or the other on them. Colony residents’ associations are constructing structures with the active support of political leaders and other influential persons, which is resulting in green parks turning into unsightly concrete jungles.
KMC officials said that no construction, including community halls, health centres or other buildings, should be allowed in the parks, but the government could sanction vacant sites for these purposes. “If structures are allowed in the parks, the city will turn in-to a concrete jungle. We should not allow it,” said V. Venkateswara Rao, president of the Citizens’ Welfare Association, pointing out that open spaces and parks were vitally necessary for the protection of residents of apartments when earthquakes or disasters occurred.
Apartment Owners Welfare Association president Tatavarti Srinivasa Rao suggested that the KMC intervene sooner rather than later and not allow such constructions in parks.
Senior citizens in the city pointed out that these colony parks and public spaces were the only ones left for some greenery to grow, free space for walking and exercise, a children’s play area and other such recreational activity.
These open areas are the main source of water harvesting, which develops the ground water level. If a concrete jungle were to replace it there is no room for water to be absorbed by the earth, leading to drains overflowing.
