Citizens oppose shifting of Rythu Bazar

Government proposing to convert Swaraj Maidan into a park

Vijayawada: The historical Swaraj Maidan, the erstwhile PWD Grounds, is all set to lose its importance with the government proposing to convert it into a park, City Square. The government had taken the decision to clear the existing Rythu Bazar and other constructions on the grounds and develop a park due to security reasons as Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had established his temporary camp office in the vicinity.

The grounds, which had seen several national leaders addressing public meetings, is set to lose its glorious past. Besides public meetings, the grounds is also used for exhibitions, annual circus, play ground by children and youth and people to learn driving. The annual Industrial and Agriculture Exhibition and the Book Exhibition held on the grounds are known to people not just in the city, but from places like Eluru, Rajahmundry, Khammam, Guntur, Ongole, as people visit the grounds for shopping and entertainment.

The Rythu Bazar, which was established by Chandrababu Naidu during his earlier stint was the first in the district, and it was renovated recently with better facilities. However, the Rythu Bazar would go off the grounds and is being relocated to Gandhinagar. The government had also decided to pull down other structures located on the sprawling 11 acres ground and get it ready for the Krishna Pushkarams starting on August 12, this year. The Chief Minister is learnt to have instructed the district administration to clear the grounds by end of July and get it ready for the park in August. Accordingly, the officials have already started clearing the structures on one side and putting up fencing to prevent entry of people into the ground.

The Left parties and the Congress have staged protests against shifting of Rythu Bazar and converting the open space into a park. The civil society, too, is reacting against the move. Retired professor Dr M C Das took strong exception to the conversion of open space into a park. “We have over 130 parks in the city, which can provide some entertainment and the historical open space in the heart of the city cannot be converted into another park,” Dr Das said. Former minister Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao recalled the history of the prestigious ground which is a land mark for the city. “It is an icon for the city and can’t be destroyed either for security reasons or the entertainment,” he asserted and reiterated stating “We will not allow this government to destroy the glorious past of the grounds.”

The historical ground had seen leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Babu Rajendra Prasad, Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayana, Indira Gandhi, Chandra Rajeswara Rao, Pucchalapalli Sundaraiah, N T Rama Rao, and many others.

In the recent past, the ground had also witnessed a massive public meeting of the Samaikyandhra movement.

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