City parks turn into safe havens for illegal activities

Ch Sowmya Sruthi Vijayawada: Parks in the City which were once places of retreat, entertainment and outing centres for both families and children have now become shelters for illegal activities. The Rajiv Gandhi Park, Dr B R Ambedkar Raghaviah Park and K L Rao Park are well-known outing places which used to provide joyful evenings to visitors. Unfortunately, they have now tuned into lovers favourite spots. Their poor maintenance is resulting in 'misuse' by youngsters, including couples. The Rajiv Gandhi Park, behind the Municipal Corporation office, has become the hub for persons who indulge in undesirable acts, as officials continue to neglect it. The children's play area has been totally neglected, as the accessories for them have been damaged. The play equipment and joyrides are out of order and need immediate attention. Families visiting the park are facing inconvenience in view of illegal activities which of late are rising. The aquarium rooms in the park are barely filled with any fish or such similar beings, which attract children. The blocks in the past were used to cage birds and other animals have now become store-rooms for machinery. The demolished structures and play material dumped in the parks have become safe shelters for couples to resort to obscene acts. Such activities have to be checked. P Srinivas Rao, a regular visitor, complains of improper maintenance of wash rooms. Another visitor Venugopal, who came to the park with his family members, said its maintenance was poor; the VMC should look into it. An official of the VMC says that it has called for tenders to set up new play equipment in parks. Steps to develop them are in the pipeline, he adds.