Sanjeevaiah Park
సంజీవయ్య ఉద్యానవనము
A wide area covered with several Tabebuias, or popularly known as trumpet tree.
A series of Caribbean trumpet trees (Tabebuia aurea) that can be seen at the park
TypePublic park
LocationHyderabad, India
Coordinates17°23′06″N 78°29′12″E / 17.385044°N 78.486671°E / 17.385044; 78.486671
Area92 acres (37 ha)[1]
Operated byHyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority
StatusOpen all year

Sanjeevaiah Park is a public greenspace and park in the heart of Hyderabad, India. Built on 92 acres (37 ha) along the banks of Hussain Sagar lake, the park is named after Damodaram Sanjivayya, an erstwhile Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.[2] The park is managed by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority.[1] The park won the Best Open Landscape Award during the 2010 Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage award presentations.[3] The park also houses the second tallest Indian Flag.[4]

Development

The Buddha Purnima Project Authority (BPPA), an agency responsible for the beautification and the upkeep of the areas surrounding the Hussain Sagar lake under Hyderabad Urban Development Authority, planned for several new recreational facilities for public access in 2004. A 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi) aerial tramway connecting this park to Lumbini Park, which is located on the other side of the Hussain Sagar lake, was planned. Water sports, amusement park and water slides were also the planned activities at the park.[5] A few years later, this proposal by BPPA to convert the park into a recreational area was deemed to be harmful to the park's ecosystem. A study conducted by the regional wildlife advisory board highlighted the need to protect the several species of flora and fauna in the park.[6]

In 2010, Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) came up with a new proposal for the park's development. While retaining all the environmental aspects of the park, the agency proposed a plan without construction of any concrete structures. Besides water sports, so as to utilise the huge waterfront, the proposal mooted night illumination, water and energy conservation measures. From their allotted budget of ₹130 million (US$1.6 million) for the lake development, a part of it was to be utilised if this proposal were to be agreed upon by the local government.[1]

Shortly thereafter, solar lighting was installed at the park. Additionally, HMDA also showcased sculptures made from recycled material as a part of its Hyderabad Eco Art Project initiative.[3] Further to this, BPPA also enforced a ban on usage and littering of plastic in several areas including this park. Necessary awareness activities were started to educate the citizens about the hazards of plastic.[7]

Fauna

Pied crested cuckoo

About 100 species of resident and non-resident birds and more than 50 species of insects and butterflies are present in the park.[8]

The park is frequented by various migratory species of birds. The pied crested cuckoo, which is considered as a harbinger of the monsoon rains due to the timing of its arrival,[9] is frequently spotted at this park. The local birdwatchers predict rains 15–18 days after spotting this bird.[10] Due to construction work initiated by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), typical birds such as the spotbills, cranes, common coot, purple herons, cormorants and jacanas were not seen at the park in 2010.[11]

National Flag

The second tallest Indian National Flag is located in this park, the tallest being in Ranchi, India. The height of the flag post is 291 feet (88.69 metres) and the dimensions of the flag are 72 feet x 108 feet. This flag was unfurled on 2 June 2016 by the Chief Minister of Telangana, K. Chandrashekar Rao. This day marked the second anniversary of Telangana's formation since its bifurcation from the state of Andhra Pradesh in 2014. This cost of the flag was reported to be Rs. 2 Crores. The original plan was to unfurl the flag 303 feet high (higher than the tallest flag at Ranchi, which is at a height of 293 feet). However, the Airports Authority of India granted permission to hoist the flag only up to 291 feet.[4][12]

Activities

The park hosts several events for the public occasionally. Events ranging from roller-skating races to social awareness campaigns, the park has encouraged public initiatives.[13][14]

Miscellaneous

After the 2007 bombings in Hyderabad, all major parks including this park were put on high security. Owing to this incident, the park witnessed a drastic reduction in the number of visitors.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Singh, T. Lalith (10 April 2010). "Plan to develop Sanjeevaiah Park". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  2. ↑ "Venue of Rao's cremation has many ironies". Press Trust of India. 25 December 2004.
  3. 1 2 "Art from recycled material at Sanjeevaiah Park". The Hindu. 27 April 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  4. 1 2 "Telangana, KCR mark second year with second tallest flag, 15 new districts". 2 June 2016.
  5. ↑ K, Kaladhar (13 March 2004). "City park to take visitors on a high". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  6. ↑ "Park upgradation hits 'eco-block'". The Hindu. 4 August 2007. Archived from the original on 5 December 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  7. ↑ "Awareness drive against littering". The Hindu. 15 June 2007. Archived from the original on 30 June 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  8. ↑ "BPPA to celebrate World Wetlands Day". The Hindu. 1 February 2008. Archived from the original on 4 February 2008. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  9. ↑ Khachar, Shivrajkumar (1989). "Pied Crested Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus – the harbinger of the monsoon". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 86 (3): 448–449.
  10. ↑ Alam, Hina Kumar (2 June 2003). "Monsoon bird spotted in city". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  11. ↑ Nanisetti, Serish (2 September 2010). "Save a lake, fill it". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  12. ↑ "Telangana Formation Day: KCR unfurls 291-ft-high flag to mark anniversary". 2 June 2016.
  13. ↑ "Sport – Roller-skating". The Hindu. 9 November 2006. Archived from the original on 4 November 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  14. ↑ "'Heart 2 Heart' fete spreads laughter". The Hindu. 12 November 2006. Archived from the original on 2 December 2006. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  15. ↑ "Security cover for city parks". The Times of India. 28 August 2007. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2010.

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