IN A STATE OF BOTHER: The Teachers Colony Park in East Marredpally has now turned into a garbage dump yard. — Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: It was a park where cricketers like M.L. Jaisimha, Shivlal Yadav and women's cricket player Purnima Rau used to hone their skills before going on to become international stars. Sadly, the two-acre Teachers Colony Park in East Marredpally of today is nothing more than a junkyard.

The park, which was once a regular venue for A-2 division cricket league matches and destination for children who had a gala time with swings and slides, has now turned into a dump yard -- an ideal den for anti-social elements.

The residents have done their best to save the open space from being lost, including a 11-year-old fight led by the Marredpally Environmental and Recreational Society (MERS) to prevent an indoor stadium from coming up on the park premises. But that has not proved enough.

Foundation stone laid

"Instead of the stadium, there was a proposal to construct a recreation park here. A foundation stone was also laid before the Assembly elections a couple of years ago, but today even the foundation stone is not seen. Such is the attitude of the Municipal authorities," says MERS secretary S. Venkateshwaran.

Two sections

The MCH authorities had not kept the promise made way back in May 2004 that they would immediately take remedial steps after The Hindu had carried reports on the pathetic condition of the park. A large portion of the compound wall has crumbled with iron grills atop the wall rusting and, at places, twisted out of shape.

The entire area has two sections -- the higher plane is totally polluted with plastic bags of garbage, plastic bottles and other litter lying strewn all over, while vandals and beggars occupy the rest of the ground.

Asking for a fresh representation from the residents, the in-charge Additional Commissioner (Secunderabad) Anuradha has promised to hold discussions with Town Planning and Horticulture authorities with regard to the development of the park.

Residents of Teachers Colony hope that at least this time, MCH keeps its promise and help the park regain its lost glory.

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