No Drinking water available at Lumbini Park

Hyderabad: Lumbini Park, one of the most frequented spots in the city, has no drinking water for visitors. There are three water coolers inside the Lumbini Park but all are defunct. On an average, 3,000 to 5,000 people visit the park every day and the number goes up to 10,000 on Sunday and public holidays.

HMDA officials say that the coolers would be repaired soon. But staff at the park say that it has been more than six months now since the coolers are lying unused. Rajalingam, maintenance manager, Lumbini Park Boating Unit says, “On an average the revenue generated is Rs 1 lakh per day and many tourists want clean drinking water. It would be a great help to people if the coolers are repaired.”

“The ticket is priced Rs 20 but a bottle of water here costs Rs 30,” said Ramesh Naik a visitor to the Lumbini Park. For families visiting the park buying water for 8 to 10 members is proving to be quite costly. The least the authorities could do is to provide drinking water,” says Malati.

The boating facility at the Hussainsagar lake in good revenue and it could be doubled only if the lake is cleaner and without the obnoxious odour that emanates from it, say officials. The six mechanised boats, five speed boats, three cruise boats and three deluxe launches together fetches an assured income of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh per day.

Hari, assistant manager, Boating Operations, says, “Every day the HMDA staff cleans loads of debris from the shore but by next morning filth piles up again. There is an urgent need to stop pollutants into the lake.

Tourists from West Bengal, Maharashtra and other neighbouring states like the view from the lake, but by the time they reach the Buddha statue they are so overwhelmed by the overpowering stink from the lake that the landscape recedes from memory.”

The Jet Ski is one of the major attractions but it is grounded in a state of disrepair. According to officials, even experts from Goa who were brought in for this purpose could not repair it. The Jet Ski is a major hit among youngsters. Suresh, a degree student said, “Six of us came to Lumbini only to take a ride on the Jet Ski but we are disappointed. The ride on the boat is just too boring.”