Secretariat at Bison Polo Grounds vehemently opposed
Braving rain, about 100 residents of Secunderabad as well as Hyderabad met opposite the Hyderabad Cricket Association gate near Parade Grounds on Friday in protest against the proposed plan by the Telangana government to construct a new secretariat at the Bison Polo Ground.
Secunderabad: Braving rain, about 100 residents of Secunderabad as well as Hyderabad met opposite the Hyderabad Cricket Association gate near Parade Grounds on Friday in protest against the proposed plan by the Telangana government to construct a new secretariat at the Bison Polo Ground.
The new outfit, ‘Save Bison Polo Group (SBPG)’ that was formed just a few days ago has now a sizable number on Watts App, Facebook and other social media. Kush Bhandari, who was instrumental in starting the Watts App group said, “We will be forming a high-profile committee comprising of eminent lawyers, architects, planners, old time residents, engineers, businessmen and others to press our demands.”
The residents have been collecting signatures online as well as on hard copy and plan to collect one lakh signatures to stop the construction of a secretariat at Bison Polo Ground and send petitions to the State government as well as the Prime Minister.
Noted lawyer Shireen Baria, social activist Omim Debara, INTACH convenor, Telangana, P Anuradha Reddy, Anita Narayanasamy of Sankalp an NGO and several others are part of the group.
The committee would have people taking care of legal and other issues. A member said that a public fund would also be provided as many members were willing to contribute. A wing of the committee would specifically be working on discussing with the power corridors.
P Anuradha Reddy said, “I have been opposing any construction activity in the area and it is not just Bison Polo and Gymkhana Grounds but the whole Secunderabad Cantonment should be saved. For decades the Cantonment was free from distractions and a secretariat would change the whole ecosystem.”
Another member said that the Centre gave an approval without taking into consideration the people’s sentiments and people were not consulted in this regard.
The Begumpet and Hakimpet airports are still there and a secretariat would be detrimental. In the case of the Begumpet Airport there is still a terminal.
In the past, the Secunderabad Cantonment Board put several restrictions before giving permissions for buildings citing the Begumpet Airport said a member.
