Landscape Garden parks of the city

Landscape Garden located at the heart of Osmania University campus is more than just a forest with barricades. Spread over 35 acres, it has five gates that open into a natural and pleasant environment exclusively for the campus.

As a whole the garden has a lot of grass with oak and other trees that give shelter to its users. Students are seen sitting under the trees while preparing for exams or during the leisure hours.

The park opens daily at 5.30 am and closes at 6.00 pm. More than 1000 morning walkers perform their exercises, yoga and other health activities. TSRTC buses are available to all parts of the city. Secunderabad Railway Station is 3 km away and Rajiv Gandhi International Air Port is 35 km away.

History

Landscape Garden was founded in 1918, when the Osmania University was developed under Mahbub Ali Khan. It was the Idea of the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan to provide a landscape that could be more than just natural scenery; it is the interaction between people and places of nature, which create an echo-friendly environment beneficial to the student community at large.

Till the 1970s convocations of the University were conducted at the Landscape Garden. The venue was later shifted to the Tagore Auditorium. Mega events like All India Science Congress and other international conferences are also held in this garden.

Problems

Although the Garden is supposed to be exclusive to the campus, outsiders are allowed liberally and visitors are seen indulging in public display of affection. There is no drinking water, toilets or shed for taking shelter when it rains.

The number of garden keepers (maalis) has come down from 102 to 60 of which, 36 are regular and the rest are on a contract bases. Representation made by the contract workers to regularise their services has gone in vain. There is a rampant grazing by buffaloes and goats in the park and in campus area, in view of the abundant grass and greenery.

Dr Venkateshwarulu, Head of the Estate Department said, “The Registrar of OU has issued a circular recently, prohibiting grazing of animals in the premises and required boundary walls were developed in certain colonies to prevent the activity. If the owners still allow the animals in our premises then serious action will be initiated against them with the help of the local police, including levy of fines.

By Ch Saibaba