HYDERABAD | XI COP | Convention on Biological Diversity | 1-19 OCT 2012

[sriece19]

GHMC must set house in order
Row over statue impacts plans to clean up city for COP-11

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, which is making much noise without concrete action to ensure cleanliness ahead of the United Nations’ Conference of Parties (COP-11) scheduled for October, would do well to begin in its backyard. This is the considered view of citizens who know enough about the ways of GHMC.

They point to the three statues that were draped in white cloth nearly two years ago. Even the cloth has not been replaced till date. For visitors frequenting the scenic Tank Bund, Hussain Sagar and Necklace Road, these statues, located in front of the GHMC main office entrance, are an eyesore.

In June 2010, at the instance of some Congress corporators, former mayor Banda Karthika Reddy took a decision to instal late chief minister Dr YS Rajashekara Reddy’s statue, since he was instrumental in the formation of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.
The standing committee approved it. Plans were made to unveil the statue on September 2, coinciding with YSR’s first death anniversary. The corporation reportedly allocated Rs 12.5 lakh for the statue and related civil works.

A sum of Rs 4.2 lakh was spent on the making of the statue, while the civic body allocated Rs 8 lakh for civil works like construction of a platform, fountain and electrical works etc.

Meanwhile, corporators belonging to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vehemently opposed the move. Singireddy Srinivas Reddy, TDP floor leader, argued that perhaps for the first time in the country efforts were made to instal the statue of a former chief minister in a government office.

Before installing YSR’s statue, the state government should install the statues of national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, BR Ambedkar and Jyoti Rao Phule, who had sacrificed their lives for the sake of the nation. Besides, a statue of former chief minister NT Rama Rao, who was instrumental in launching welfare schemes for the poor and the downtrodden sections of society, should also be erected, Singireddy Srinivas Reddy pointed out.

Thousands of YSR statues had been erected across the State. In this backdrop, where was the need to install one on the premises of a government office, he questioned. Instead, the TDP leaders suggested, the Congress party should install YSR statue at Gandhi Bhavan, as ample space was available there.

After all this, the standing committee met again on October 6, 2010, and resolved to keep a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi behind the Mayor’s chair in the Council Hall and a portrait of Dr BR Ambedkar at the entrance of the corporation. It however rejected the TDP demand to keep N T Rama Rao statue in the office.

Officials went ahead with the installation works and YSR’s statue was brought to the office during the last week of November, following which engineering officials started civil works at the GHMC.

The TDP corporators subsequently brought statues of Mahatma Gandhi and B R Ambedkar, reportedly from Vijayawada, and kept them on the same platform where YSR statue was to be unveiled at ceremony on November 25, 2010. This mounted pressure on GHMC to also unveil the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and B R Ambedkar at the same time.

The civic officials were in a fix because removal of the other two statues was fraught with risks of protests. Compounding the city body’s woes, the GHMC SC/ST Employees’ Welfare Association urged the civic authorities to allow installation of Babu Jagjivan Ram’s statue on the premises.

With no options left, the standing committee met on April 2011 and resolved that the statues of Dr B R Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi be installed at another suitable place to be identified by the employees’ unions.

Engineering officials said that the government was yet to approve the proposals for installation of the statues of Gandhi and Ambedkar on the premises of the corporation. Once the GO is issued, steps would be taken to install the two statues, after talks with public representatives and employee unions. However, nobody is sure when it would materialise.

It is unlikely that the GHMC, which is running short of time to beautify the whole city for the international bio-diversity summit, would spend time on setting its house in order.

Rs 32 crore released for Biodiversity conf.

Hyderabad: The Government has released Rs 32.25 crore to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) as first installment for the beautification and laying of roads for the forthcoming convention on Biological Diversity (CoP-11), scheduled to take place on October 15-16. Since representatives from as many as 190 countries are going to participate in the conference, priority shall be given to develop alternative routes to the already identified routes. All roads will be spruced up and laid on a war-footing, authorities said.

Alternate roads for development under COP-11: Widening of road from Hi-tex entry gate to the exit gate leading to Kondapur main road (Rs 2.50 crore), linking the existing internal road of NAC to east gate to MMTS station (Rs 1.25 crore), from second Railway under pass to the proposed master plan road (Rs 4.50 crore), Srinagar Colony main road to the Jubilee Hills check post junction (Rs 3 crore).

[sriece19]

Finally something to cheer up about COP11

`100-cr biodiversity park coming up at Gachibowli

As Hyderabad is gearing up to host the International Biodiversity Conference during October 1-19 at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre, the central government has decided to set up a biodiversity museum at a cost of Rs 100 crore, Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board chairman R Hampaiah said.

The foundation stone for the museum will be laid during the conference and the project will be completed in a year.The museum is designed to showcase a panorama of India's rich diversity of forests, wetland habitats, coral reefs as well as a wide range of natural formations and resources, while providing a peek at the gamut of birds, mammals, trees, fish and reptiles, besides endemic plant and vertebrate species.

Hampaiah told The Hans India and HMTV that the Centre had taken it up as a prestigious venture to make the international event a grand success. Over 190 member-countries are taking part in the United Nations’ Conference of Parties (COP-11) on biological diversity and the number of participants could cross 10,000.

Hampaiah said that a pylon, first of its kind, would be set up at Gachibowli to support the Biodiversity Park coming up over an extent of 15 acres. The Union Ministry of Forests and Environment had already released Rs 100 crore toward the setting up the museum, he said.

It would feature models of diverse plants, trees and animals, and create a rich ambience reflecting the biodiversity of the planet. The conference seeks to shed light on the biodiversity of the planet, while stressing the scientific community’s responsibility to save Mother Nature by sharing thoughts through scientific research and applying them into social life.

The museum will highlight the topics figuring at the conference including ecosystem; origin of species and evolution; biodiversity, energy systems and environmental sustainability; plant pathology and microbiology; biofertilisers and biopesticides; linking hydrology and biodiversity; biodegradation and bioremediation for conservation; biodiversity in earth science and climate change; biogeochemical cycles and food webs; and sustainable energies and their development.
A window on

interconnectedness of all life forms
If one looks at Beaty Biodiversity Museum located in Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada, its objective is to make visitors fall in love with the diversity of life by presenting a 20,000 sq ft site of a variety of exhibits. The museum puts up natural history collections, with more than two million specimens.

Through a combination of exhibits, hands-on activities, educators’ resources, public presentations, and community and cultural engagement, it seeks to increase the understanding of the interconnectedness of all life on the earth.

Similar objectives with adequate coverage of all issues on protecting and sustaining biodiversity will form the theme of the upcoming biodiversity museum.

[kailash9999]

Originally Posted by sriece19

Finally something to cheer up about COP11

`100-cr biodiversity park coming up at Gachibowli

Oh So finally they wake up ?!

[sriece19]

Originally Posted by kailash9999

Oh So finally they wake up ?!

Yes, they finally realized that they've to take this event seriously

Spruce up city fast for COP-11: GHMC chief

GHMC Commissioner M T Krishna Babu on Tuesday instructed the officials to speed up works on widening of roads and footpaths and improving the state of roads on the routes that would be used by the participants of the United Nations’ Conference of Parties (COP-11) on biological diversity to be held in the city on October 1-19.



The sanctioned works pertaining to COP-11 should be started in the next five days, the Commissioner said. The works include road improvements, footpath widening, rectifying leakages and so on. He also told officials concerned that he would visit the roads identified for the COP-11 in the next week.

The identified roads are Gagan Pahad, Shamshabad Airport, Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital, Mehdipatnam to Masab Tank flyover, Nagarjuna junction, Road No 1 Banjara Hills, Shilparamam, Hi-Tec City and Novotel Hotel. Krishna Babu directed that the footpaths be curbed with concrete and the gaps covered. Plantation on either side of the roads with trees like Bhogan Villa, Fox Tail Palms would be taken up in association with HMDA for giving green look to the city, he said.

The Commissioner said he would visit all the places in the next few weeks and expects improvements on these roads. If works are not done, officials would have to face consequences, he warned.

Electric poles and transformers occupying footpaths should be shifted to proper place. He also inspected the formation of drain works being taken up near Shilparamam to Hi-Tech City and directed the officials to expedite the works. He asked the Additional Commissioner (Parks) to remove telephone/ electrical poles on the existing island opposite Shilparamam and beautify it with greenery.

[ratnam]

Originally Posted by sriece19

GHMC to erect new sign boards

HYDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has decided to erect new signboards on important road stretches in view of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP-11).

As part of beautification of the city along with providing information to delegates participating in the COP-11, the corporation has decided to provide signboards on 17 roads by dividing them into three packages, GHMC engineer-in-chief R Dhan Singh said.

The roads include Hi-Tec City to Nagarjuna Circle, Road No 1 and 12 to Jubilee Hills checkpost, Telugu Talli flyover to CTO via Tank Bund, RP Road to NTR Statue at Rasoolpura, Raj Bhavan to Ravindra Bharathi, Golconda Fort to Tolichowki, SD Eye Hospital to Outer Ring Road at Gachibowli and other stretches.

The new signboards indicating important locations and tourists spots would be erected at a cost of Rs 9 crore. Two firms have been engaged for erecting the signboards within 75 days, of which 629 boards would be the street names, 58 gantries, 454 triangular boards and 84 cantilever signboards.

GHMC has already started beautification works on flyovers with the help of JNTU College of Fine Arts.

it is not jntu .it is JNAFAU.

[sriece19]

Bio Diversity park in Gachibowli a true international landmark in bio science

As Hyderabad is gearing up to host the International Biodiversity Conference during October 1-19 at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre at Gachibowli, the Central Government has decided to set up a biodiversity museum-cum-park at a cost of Rs 100 crore in the area, Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board chairman R Hampaiah said.

The foundation stone for the museum will be laid during the conference and the project will be completed in a year. The museum is designed to showcase a panorama of India’s rich diversity of forests, wetland habitats, coral reefs as well as a wide range of natural formations and resources, while providing a peek at the gamut of birds, mammals, trees, fish and reptiles, besides endemic plant and vertebrate species.

[sriece19]

Hyderabad Flyovers get Beautification nod




As part of city beautification works for the Eleventh Confederation of Parties for Convention on Biological Diversity (COP-11), Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has decided to execute murals (art work on a wall or ceiling) on the pillars and ramps of flyovers at various places in the city.

While the work on the flyover adjacent to the Secretariat is underway from the past several days, the civic body has invited proposals from interested artists or contractors for works to be executed on other flyovers.

The designs and concepts should be sent along with the price quotations to the Additional Commissioner (Parks) within the next seven days, civic authorities informed in a press release.

[sriece19]

Rs 100 crore biodiversity museum to come up in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: The foundation stone for a Rs 100 crore worth biodiversity museum in the city will be laid during the international biodiversity meet, Conference of Parties 11 (COP 11) scheduled to be held in Hyderabad this October. This was announced by R Humpaiah, chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Biodiversity Board, on Thursday. He said that the state board would also develop a biodiversity park alongside the museum on a sprawling 15-acre land on the Gachibowli-Mehdipatnam road.

"We have already taken possession of this land and work will begin after the meet. While the museum is being built by the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF), we have been sanctioned about Rs 5 crore to develop the park," Humpaiah said, while speaking to the media.

Speaking about the October summit, he said that it was expected to draw as many as 18,000 delegates from across the globe. This would include forest ministers, heads of states, NGOs and other international bodies such as World Bank, World Wildlife Fund and International Union for Conservation of Nature among others.

"This was the number of participants who attended the last summit in Nagoya (Japan). This time, the figure could be higher," he said. The Indian delegation alone is likely to be 1,000-member strong, he added.

On October 1, the event will kick-start with a five-day meeting of parties (MOP) wherein participants will be seen deliberating issues pertaining to bio-technology and bio-safety protocol. "COP 11 will start from October 8. The members will discuss subjects related to forestry, agricultural, marine and coastal biodiversity and also suggest ways of protecting these resources," said Humpaiah. The summit will also encompass various 'side events' such as cultural shows and exhibitions that will be held at various venues.

COP 11 is being organised by the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity in association with MoEF, India.

Source: TOI

[sriece19]

Facelift for zoo before Bio meet

HYDERABAD: The upcoming 11th Global Biodiversity Summit in the city has thrown up a major challenge for the Nehru Zoological Park authorities. The 360-acre park, supposedly one among the key sight-seeing destinations for thousands of delegates participating in the international conference, was given a grant of Rs 2.4 crores for beautification work and for creating visitor-friendly amenities. The works however started just about a week ago, leaving less than two months before the conference commences on October 1.

Zoo officials, though worried, maintained that they are hopeful of wrapping up the works by September end. Sources said the proposal for Rs 4.4 crores worth refurbishment works was sent well in time but works had to be held over as there was a delay in its approval and the release of money (almost 50% of what was asked).

As part of the sprucing up works, an auditorium is being constructed near the entrance on a built up area of 1,300 square feet, a short documentary is being readied, the aquarium and the history museum are being upgraded apart from improvement of visitor amenities. Officials said that a filmmaker has been roped in to create a short documentary film that will give a brief lowdown on the zoo, its specialties and zoo ethics.

"We are also trying to expand the existing aquarium and have plans to procure fishes from different parts of the country and world," said M A Waheed, curator, zoo park. Also, the natural history museum near the entrance that has dioramas (models) of various wild animals in different settings would also be upgraded. Authorities said they are trying to add more space to the museum.

Officials informed that battery operated vehicles would be a part of the improvement in visitor amenities apart from dust-free pathways and refurbishment of cafeteria. "We are expecting about 100 to 150 delegates a day," the officials said. They added that they were hopeful of wrapping up the works by September end.

[sriece19]

Fine art: Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation holds recycling workshop

HYDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has opened a national workshop with the JNTU, University of Fine Arts for production of art from scrap as part of activities undertaken to promote the COP 11 meet.

The artwork-from-scrap project has been taken up with an eye on the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity (COP 11), to be hosted by the city in October this year. Nearly 52 biodiversity themes have been created by students since July 23 and the workshop would conclude in a week.

Mayor Majid Hussain and GHMC commissioner MT Krishna Babu visited the workshop at RTC scrap depot in Boduppal on Monday.

The mayor said that the articles and sculptures made at the workshop send out the perfect message urging full utilisation of resources. He lauded the artists and students at JNTU Fine Arts for creating something new out of scrap.

The commissioner said that students from various universities and sculptors from across the country, mostly from the fine arts background, were participating in the workshop that aims to create awareness on the importance of biodiversity.

The commissioner said that APSRTC, which has a large scrapyard, had helping GHMC with the space for the endeavour.

Krishna Babu said that a workshop on stone sculpture would start at JNTU, Masab Tank on August 8 and continue for a month with a similar biodiversity theme.

He said artwork made from scrap would be installed at major parks, important junctions and other public spaces in the city.

[sriece19]

Volunteers brace up for global meet

The international bio-diversity CoP-11 is to be held in the month of October

As the city prepares to host nearly 10,000 delegates from 192 countries for the international bio-diversity Conference of Parties (CoP-11) in the month of October, a massive exercise to train and orient volunteers for the event is on.

Every Sunday, spread over five different venues, students drawn from different colleges have been undergoing extensive instruction by master trainers in various aspects like basics of foreign languages to gaining exposure to policies on bio-diversity of the participating nations.

At the training venues that include the offices of A.P. Pollution Control Board (APPCB) and National Green Corps (NGC) apart from Indira Priyadarshini auditorium, services of specialists have also been roped in to provide insights in soft skills, stress management and public speaking.

“Our trainers are helping the selected students brush up their English and prepare them for the event,” says Sruthi, master trainer at the PCB office complex. Teams are also participating in mock UN sessions with each student representing a country.

The student-volunteers have been provided with a detailed backgrounder about the nation they represent and the inputs include different policies including foreign policy and status of bio-diversity there. Another lively factor of the orientation training has been the students practising a flash mob dance with messages on the event agenda. In batches of 40 each, they spent part of the day dancing and generating messages on the issue to the choreography of Puneet Reddy of Indian Youth Climate Network.

“We have been practising for the last six weeks and it is turning out to be a memorable experience. My city is hosting the biggest ever event in these parts and as young citizens, we are trying to contribute our best,” says T.K.S. Sarath, a student of Srinidhi College of Engineering.

At the mock UN proceedings, Narjes of Shadan Degree College is representing Bahrain and she says, “For us, this whole exercise has opened new understanding about different countries and the global approach towards the issue of bio-diversity”.

Students from different colleges ranging from medicine, engineering to agriculture has been drafted to create the volunteer community for the COP-11 under an initiative called ‘Prakrithi Mitra’.

[Gudavalli]

Hyderabad: PCB trains flash mobs for bio meet

Hyderabad: Flash mobs are slowly but surely becoming the norm for all promotional events in the city. Now, if private players can stage these dances, why not government departments? Sensing that flash mobs can attract attention of one and all, the Pollution Control Board (PCB) has trained more than 100 college students for the upcoming bio-diversity conference in October. The PCB in association with the National Green Corps has trained 80 girls and 32 boys from different colleges in the city under a programme called Prakruthi Mitra.
“We have trained 80 girls and 32 boys from different colleges in Hyderabad for the dances. Flash mobs will perform at public places to educate and inform the public about the international conference,” Prasanna Kumar, scientist, PCB, told City Express. According to Prasanna Kumar, who is organising the programme, besides these 100-odd students, several other school-going children have also been trained and the best of the lot will finally be selected.
The bio-diversity conference will be held in the city from Oct 1 to 19. The PCB and the National Green Corps are also training students for performing cultural programmes on the sidelines of the conference. “We have arranged teams comprising school students from different states and they will participate in the cultural section of the conference area. One item will be performed everyday at the cultural section,” explained Kumar. College students from across the State belonging to the National Service Scheme (NSS) have also been roped in to perform folk and street theater performances on biodiversity conservation.

In addition to the cultural programmes, the organisers will also conduct a Model United Nations conference from Oct 3 to 5 for students. It will be an academic simulation of the UN. “We have begun training students for the Model UN and more than 50 schools from across the state have send their students for the same,” said Kumar.
Enrollments from other states have been initiated as well and 172 students representing 23 states will come to Hyderabad to take part in the selection process, which will be held on August 22 and 23. “Of them, 120 students will be selected and they will participate in the Model UN programme in October,” he added. A separate Model UN programme will be held for college students from October 10 to 12 where 195 students from across the country will participate.

[gunns007]

The work that is currently in progress is moving at a snail's pace... I hardly see any kind of new development happening to the old fountains beneath the flyovers of Begumpet, Paradise and St. Ann's What's more disheartening that there still isnt a plan for begger rehabilation similar to the ones that were in implementation during CBN's tenure!!! He would have made some amazing difference to the current plans of beautification...

I wish the GHMC and other various boards and departments involved sort out their issues and speed up the process... They are running out of time!

[ananth9803]

Nice

[sriece19]

Some kind of stuff being carried out near Hi-tech city flyover and along that stretch....

[sriece19]

‘Rehabilitate beggars before cop-11’

While crores of rupees are being spent to beautify Hyderabad for the international biodiversity conference COP-11 in October, citizens want the government to seriously consider making Greater Hyderabad, a beggar-free city. Getting rid of beggars does not mean that they should be thrown out of the city, as was the case during US President Bill Clinton’s visit in 2000, they said.

Citizens said government should come up with plans to rehabilitate beggars. Knee-jerk measures like setting up homes for beggars just for the time being will not serve any purpose, they said. Many motorists feared that physically-handicapped beggars may come under the wheels of the vehicle. “They move between the vehicles on small wooden platforms. While driving, we cannot see them, said Right to Walk Foundation vice-president O.M. Debara, adding: “Some women come with infants in their arms holding an empty milk bottle. It is cruelty to children,” Environmentalist Dr S. Jeevanand Reddy says the government should also look into the role of agents who control beggar gangs.

[kailash9999]

Slowly yet steadily the city is taking shape for the COP Convention, Would like to mention that the citizens should also play their part by being the perfect hosts for the 12 thousand Odd Delegates who are going to descend upon Hyd in a little over a Months Time. So here is me wishing we do not litter the place, Spit, break rules, etc..etc.. and also continue to do so after the convention to make this event a huge success story for Hyd !

Meanwhile here are some useful links and info regarding the event:

Cop 11 Official Logo:



Conference of the Parties (COP);

The Conference of the Parties is the governing body of the Convention, and advances implementation of the Convention through the decisions it takes at its periodic meetings.
To date the Conference of the Parties has held 10 ordinary meetings, and one extraordinary meeting (the latter, to adopt the Biosafety Protocol, was held in two parts). From 1994 to 1996, the Conference of the Parties held its ordinary meetings annually. Since then these meetings have been held somewhat less frequently and, following a change in the rules of procedure in 2000, will now be held every two years. To date the Conference of the Parties has taken a total of 299 procedural and substantive decisions.
The Tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity was be held in Nagoya, Japan (18 - 20 October 2010). The Eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties will take place in India in October 2012.

COP 11 India Portal: http://www.cbdcop11india.in/home.html

International Portal: http://www.cbd.int/

Venue Information:

HICC-HITEX Complex;

Spread over an area of 35 acres, together HICC and HITEX comprise the complete venue for CoP11 to CBD and MoP6. All the activities and meetings during the conference duration will be held across this ultra-modern convention and exhibition centre. Complex has Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre (5 star business hotel) and several other premium hotels in close proximity.



HYDERABAD INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION CENTRE (HICC);

HICC is South Asia's finest convention centre, offering state of the art exhibition, meeting and convention services. The venue is 45 minutes’ drive from The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. HICC is integrated with a 287-room-capacity 5 star hotel, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre.
All conference plenary sessions will take place at HICC halls.



HITEX – HYDERABAD INTERNATIONAL TRADE EXPOSITIONS;

HITEX, a world class venue, is India's one of the most modern Exhibition facilities.
Exhibition and cafeteria during CoP11 to CBD will be setup in HITEX Buildings.



Venue Map:

Click to view on Google Maps


Route Map:



Map with COP 11 Venues and Major Hotels in Hyderabad:

Click to view in Google Maps

[Gudavalli]

Excellent summary kailash...

[Gudavalli]

Science express to chug in on Aug 24

KOCHI: The train that showcases the biodiversity of the country will reach Ernakulam on August 24. 'Science Express- Biodiversity Special' (SEBS), is an initiative of the railway ministry and the department of science and technology that will cover over 100 stations in two years.

From Ernakulam, it will go to Kozhikode on August 25 where the train will be stationed till August 28.

The train was flagged off on June 5, 2012 and will end its journey in Gandhinagar on December 22. It will be stationed at Hyderabad from October 9 to 19, 2012, during the CBD COP11, so that the COP delegates/dignitaries are able to experience the rich biodiversity of our country.

Of the 16 coaches of the Science Express- Biodiversity Special, eight are solely dedicated to showcasing the myriad biodiversity and will focus on critically endangered species (IUCN Red list), biodiversity hotspots, bio-culture, threats and challenges (climate change, other anthropogenic) and conservation measures.

The exhibition also covers various other facets like marine, coastal, forest, microbial, agro biodiversity and their linkage with livelihoods besides challenges of conservation. Three other coaches have exhibits on climate change, energy and water conservation. The Joy of Science (JOS) Lab is housed in another coach, in which students can perform various experiments and activities to understand concepts in biodiversity, climate change, environment and science.

[carzzz12]

Kailash is Rocking !!!!! Thank you soooo much !!!