December 07, 2008	Sunday	Zilhaj 8, 1429

HYDERABAD, Dec 6: A spokesman for the privatisation minister here on Saturday disputed a story published in Dawn on Dec 6 regarding his son’s wedding in Rani Bagh’s Abbas Bhai Park, terming it incorrect and misleading.

“The venue being used is Abbas Bhai Park, and not Rani Bagh. The venue has witnessed hundreds of marriages in the past and the district government used it for their function of similar size last week,” he said.

He held out an assurance that there would be no ‘destruction’ on the venue, as apprehended. He concluded that no official facility was being availed for marriage.

OUR CORRESPONDENT REPLIES: Abbas Bhai Park is a part and parcel of Rani Bagh, developed and renovated at a cost of Rs150 million by the district government. It is a public park meant for people’s recreation, but because of its use for such gatherings, it had gone to the dogs.

The park was established by a philanthropist, Seth Abbas Bhai of Fateh Group, for people’s recreation, but the authorities were unable to exercise control over the facility, leading to its depletion.

The gathering that took place last week, referred to in the clarification, was the inaugural function of Rani Bagh itself. Sunday’s wedding will be the first such function at the venue after renovation.