Visakhapatnam: Walkers and sports enthusiasts staged a protest near the Gandhi Statue at Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) on Wednesday demanding immediate cancellation of user charges imposed on those using the parks.
GVMC has stipulated an annual fee of ₹720 for individuals who use parks and stadiums across the city, specifically during the morning and evening hours.
The district committee of CPI has mobilised the citizens against the fees, calling it an anti-people move that commodifies public spaces intended for health and recreation.
Addressing the protesters, CPI district secretary S.K. Rahman condemned the collection of fees in public parks. He said the GVMC and the state government, in the name of raising resources, are shamefully handing over public assets to private entities.
Rahman warned that such a policy would adversely affect public health. He criticised the GVMC for commercialising civic services despite having a budget of thousands of crores.
Protesters at the venue said such a move would discourage citizens from using parks and stadiums like Indira Priyadarshini and Swarnabharati. A delegation of those protesting submitted a memorandum to the GVMC additional commissioner opposing the user charges.
The CPI has warned that if the fee is not revoked immediately, citizens will intensify their protest programmes.
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