Park Encroachments: GVMC's Denial Baffles Residents Of Vizag's East Point Colony
He questioned the TD-led alliance’s moral stance if similar land-grab tactics are now being repeated, and pledged to take the matter to deputy CM Pawan Kalyan for resolution.
Visakhapatnam:The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation’s Zone-3 has responded to a recent Deccan Chronicle report titled “Vizag's green spaces face land grab threat.”
In a rejoinder, the Zone-3 commissioner said, “The town planning department has observed that the said Open Space (East Point Colony) is a part of the GVMC Park. It is protected with a compound wall. The park is under the maintenance of the GVMC’s horticulture department. There is no encroachment to the park."
However, on-site observations tell a different story. Two workers employed by a private individual, P Satya Prasad Chowdhury, are seen maintaining the park and unlocking its gates each morning. They are not affiliated to the GVMC. One of them, P Devudamma, confirmed to Deccan Chronicle that Chowdhury pays her `10,000 per month. The gardener, Bottha Ramu, reportedly earns `15,000. Both operate independently.
Residents say permanent structures, including a worship area, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom, have been constructed within the park. Rajana Bangaru Raju, treasurer of the East Point colony walkers association, noted that although GVMC’s appointed gatekeeper arrives at 9am, Chowdhury’s workers get into the park earlier through another entrance.
Political tension has escalated over the issue. Jana Sena corporator Peethala Murthy Yadav alleged that a sitting MLA from his party pressured GVMC to reclassify the two park plots in East Point colony, measuring 1,397 and 2,263.68 square yards, as private land. This move contradicts earlier rulings by both the district court (OS No. 44/2002) and high court (writ petition 13709/2011), which recognised the parks as GVMC property.
YSRC corporator Muvvala Lakshmi Suresh of Ward 20 reconfirmed that encroachments have been ongoing despite protests during GVMC council meetings.
Murthy Yadav said the JS MLA continued to push for a survey report falsely declaring ownership, even under the new commissioner Ketan Garg. Rumours swirl that the MLA purchased the park. Murthy Yadav pointed to past incidents involving alleged encroachments by YSRC’s Vijayasai Reddy, actions that were met with protests by NDA corporators, including those from Jana Sena and Telugu Desam.
He questioned the TD-led alliance’s moral stance if similar land-grab tactics are now being repeated, and pledged to take the matter to deputy CM Pawan Kalyan for resolution.
