Hyderabad: Lotus Pond, nestled in MLA Colony, Jubilee Hills, near the residence of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, was once a favoured park for morning walks and evening strolls. The serenity was such that it drew celebrities and locals alike.
Now it has turned an eyesore.
The park is still green and well-maintained but so is its water murky and brownish - green.
“It is mosquito-larvae infested,” says a contract worker, one of ten hired by GHMC for its upkeep. “Early mornings, walkers have to purse their noses because of the stench,” the workers said, citing it as one of the reasons for the reduced footfall.
Plastic and thermocol material float on top of the pond, while algae blankets it’s edge, adding to the foul smell.
“We used to come for evening walks, but the condition and mosquitoes make it unbearable. We’d love to return, but it’s just not possible now,” says Shradhaa K from Filmnagar.
The park hosts diverse flora and fauna, including over 20 bird species such as the little egret, pied kingfisher, common moorhen and sunbird. It has a 1.2 km walking track and was created to preserve natural rock formations.
GHMC has been managing it since its inauguration in 1999 and maintained it quite well until a few years back, opine many residents from the surrounding area.
Open from 6 to 10 am and 4 to 8 pm, Lotus Pond once offered a refreshing atmosphere for walkers. Now, its neglected state discourages even the regulars.
“It’s not a pond but a dumpster full of breeding mosquitoes,” says Shrutee Ghosh, a senior graphic designer in an MNC.
A supervisor explained that maintenance is split across departments. Urban biodiversity wing handles greenery; the entomology team oversees mosquito control, the engineering wing manages pathways, while the irrigation department is responsible for water quality.
For all their efforts, issues like broken paddlewheel aerators and plastic waste persist.
