GHMC to lease out playgrounds to schools

Hyderabad: Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has proposed to lease out 521 playgrounds to schools on an hourly basis in order to inculcate an interest in sports among schoolchildren.

As part of the proposal, 521 playgrounds will be leased out to schools on an hourly basis. According to the civic body's sports wing, the playgrounds can be used by school managements from 10 am to 4 pm on weekdays at a nominal price.

Among the 521 playgrounds, 158 are less than 500 square metres, 124 are spread across 500 to 1,000 square metres and 89 are above 4,000 square metres. "The grounds will be charged on an hourly basis. The grounds which are less than 500 square metres would cost Rs 250 per hour. Similarly, those which span 500-1000 square metres would cost Rs 500 per hour. For the larger ones, we are charging Rs 1,500 per hour," said SR Premaraj, director of sports, GHMC.

The move is aimed at preventing these open grounds from becoming a hub for anti-social elements.

The minimum criteria for application, according to the officials, is that the schools must use the grounds for 75 hours in a span of 11 months. The last date for application is January 19, and the schools must pay a fee of Rs 500 in the form of a demand draft, which would be non-refundable.