No kites at People’s Plaza this year

Hyderabad: This Makar Sankranti, kite-flyers are sure to miss the People’s Plaza as the Buddha Purnima Wing of the Hyderabad Metropol­itan Development Autho­rity has handed over the site to the contractor, who has already started digging at the temporary dumping yard for the Balkapur and Banjara dredged material.

A stop-gate has been put up at the entry point and digging works are on at full swing at the 4-acre site which is going to be a dumping area for the next six months.

The officials said the contractor, to whom the Plaza has been handed over, is now authorised to permit kite flying activities at the spot on the festive day. However, and even a day’s delay in completion of the works will cost the contractor.

Currently, several holes have been dug up to install the barricading pillars. The civic body states that the entire area will be blocked in the coming few days. The 4-acre Plaza will be closed for the public till the dredged material is shifted to the permanent dumping site.

Every year, thousands of eager kite-flyers and merrymakers throng the People’s Plaza from the early hours till late in the night and several kites festivals are organised here. Hundreds of people also participate in rangoli competitions and other cultural activities.