Jalavihar Amusement Park in Hyderabad under fire for alleged fraud

Hyderabad: In the heart of Hyderabad, where the historic Hussain Sagar Lake meets the bustling Necklace Road, a storm is brewing over one of the city’s most popular attractions -Jalavihar Amusement Park. The park, sprawling across a 12.5-acre waterfront property, finds itself in the eye of the storm. Former Rajya Sabha member Syed Azeez Pasha accused M/s Jalavihar Entertainments Pvt. Ltd., and N.V. Ramaraju, and his associates of violations of land encroachments, environmental laws, and court orders. He accused the park’s operators of a staggering Rs 75 crore fraud against the state and filed a complaint with the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA).
Going further into details, Jalavihar Amusement Park on Necklace Road, along the Hussain Sagar Lake was granted under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement. This agreement places significant responsibilities on the private operators, including compliance with all legal and environmental standards.
“Over the past decade, the cumulative loss in revenue sharing could exceed Rs 75 crore otherwise available for public welfare and infrastructure development. M/s Jalavihar Entertainments Pvt. Ltd., under N.V. Ramaraju, has been underreporting its revenue, evading Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Income Tax. The PPP agreement requires Jalavihar to share a portion of its revenue with the government. By underreporting income, Jalavihar deprives the state of its rightful share,” said Pasha, CPI National secretary in his complaint.
The Jalavihar constructions violate NGT directives, as they proceeded without the necessary environmental clearances and in defiance of the tribunal’s order. The ongoing illegal activities at Jalavihar, despite clear legal violations, suggest a nexus between the management and certain government officials. This corruption has prevented enforcement actions and allowed Ramaraju to operate with impunity, undermining the legal framework protecting public and environmental interests, alleges Pasha.
Park’s illegal activities threaten public safety
“Illegal activities at Jalavihar have polluted Hussain Sagar, compromised public health, and caused significant flooding nearby, risking 20 lakh lives”, claimed Pasha adding that “these impacts necessitate urgent intervention to prevent further damage and hold those responsible accountable”.
M/s Jalavihar Entertainments Pvt. Ltd. violations have serious impacts on Telangana, particularly concerning the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRA). Further Pasha demanded a thorough investigation into the alleged illicit operations under Rama Raju’s direction which will safeguard public assets and protect public funds.