Faced by ire of local residents and descendants of martyr freedom fighter Jai Mangal Pandey, the district administration has finally changed the name of Simpson Park to Zilla Parishad Park Hazaribagh.

Deputy development commissioner Vijaya Jadhav, who is behind the construction of the park, confirmed the new name on Tuesday while talking to The Telegraph Online.

Captain Simpson was the first deputy commissioner of Hazaribagh whose official residence was near District Mor Chowk. He had ordered the construction of a pond opposite his residence, which became popular as Simpson talab. The pond, however, was lying in neglect after Independence.

Soon after her posting in the district, Jadhav not only ensured that the pond was cleaned up but also arranged Rs.1.5crore fund to convert it into a park. On Jadhav's order, the entrance gate, which earlier bore the name of Simpson Park, was renamed as Zilla Parsiha Park Hazaribagh.

Many suggestions were made for renaming it, including Gautam Buddha, teen martyr Subhas Barla, Jai Mangal Pandey. Finally, it was named Zilla Parishad Park.

Jadhav said the name given to the park was as per the records of Zilla Parishad.

She said, “It was not an officer who named this pond but given by the local people. This pond was mentioned as Simpson talab in records. Even in many of the government documents, I found the name as Simpson talab.”

“After constructing a new park here, the name continued,” she added.

Jadhav said people are happy to see the renovation of the pond into a beautiful park but they had raised objection over its name. “So I have changed the name for the time being as Zilla Parishad Park Hazaribagh,” she said.

Jadhav said several suggestions came regarding the renaming. “I can only say that it is now up to the Zilla Parishad, which is the custodian of this park, to call a board meeting and take a resolution for renaming this park after any freedom fighter.

Jadhav took the decision at a time when Sachidanand Pandey, a descendant of martyr freedom fighter Jai Mangal Pandey, had announced to observe a fast at his home on Wednesday to mount pressure on officials to rename the park.

Hearing the decision, Pandey expressed happiness and said Jadhav had respected their feelings. BJP leader Bhuvneshwar Patel and Congress leader Surjeet Nagwala also welcomed the decision for renaming the park. Nagwala said he expected the administration to call a meeting of the leaders of all parties and reach on a consensus to rename it again after any prominent person or freedom fighter of this area.