The NTR Gardens is among the gardens in the vicinity of Hussain Sagar lake serving as a recreation park.
In 1999, a land of 5 acres (2.0 ha) from a 55 acres (22 ha) plot was utilized for erecting a memorial for N. T. Rama Rao, the former Chief Minister of unbifurcated Andhra Pradesh. It was inaugurated by N. Chandrababu Naidu.[3] It was planned to further expand this area, which has since been referred to as NTR Gardens, by constructing a museum about N. T. Rama Rao. This memorial was a part of the Buddha Purnima Project that was being handled by Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) for the beautification and development of the Hussain Sagar lake and its surroundings as a major tourist attraction.[3]
In 2000, the Government of Andhra Pradesh expressed its plans to develop this area with several projects such the NTR Gardens itself, a rock garden and an IMAX theatre.[4] Few days later, a government official firstly said that the rock garden will be taken up by Dubai-based NRIs at a cost of Rs. 27 crores. Secondly the IMAX theatre project, which was said to cost Rs. 52 crore was allotted to a private firm. Both these projects were to be executed in the same 55-acre (220,000 m2) plot which housed the memorial.[5]
Controversy
Blooming flowers at the gardens.
Upon the beginning of work at these gardens in January 2000, a petition by two non-profit organizations sought an immediate halt of construction activity at the gardens. They contended that regulations showed the area around the lake as a recreation zone which must be kept away from all constructions for commercial or residential purposes. Since they claimed that these proposed projects violated all these, they sought a public hearing and an environment impact assessment before allowing these projects to continue. Accordingly, the local apex court instructed the authorities to stop the construction until further orders.[6]
A media report suggested that according to the 1980 HUDA Master Plan, the area where the NTR Gardens are located originally was a water body, but a gazetted notification in 1994 could allow such construction activities.[7]
Present
In 2001, the extensive work at 34 acres (14 ha) of gardens was completed at a cost of Rs. 40 crores.[8][9] Besides a variety of plants, the gardens also house a souvenir complex, a visitors train, restaurants and a waterfall.
