Hyderabad Lakes & Parks

[Gudavalli]

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City zoo makeover

The Nehru Zoological Park, already a landmark in the city, will have many more attractions and enhancements, thanks to the beautification occasioned by the upcoming 11th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

Among other things, the zoo will have battery-operated vehicles. In all, 20 new vehicles are being procured. Fourteen of the vehicles will be placed in Hyderabad zoo and the rest in Tirupati zoo. A sum of Rs 96.80 lakh is being utilised for this purpose.

All the vehicles will be placed in the zoo before 25th September. Along with this, the authorities are constructing an ornamental 200-metre grill at the entrance. An arch over the main gate is already under construction. The cost of this is Rs.45 lakh.

An orientation centre/auditorium with modern audio- visual facilities is being developed. The auditorium can accommodate 110 visitors. Visitors will be shown a film of 8-10 minutes regarding animals, animal zones, zoo routes, visitor facilities and zoo ethics. The cost of the proposed project is Rs. 35 lakh and the works are estimated to be completed by 25th September.

The present aquarium is being extended with additional floor space of 800 sqft, taking the total area to 1600 sqft. A modern display system will be introduced in the aquarium. Separate sections for indigenous and exotic fresh water and marine fishes will be arranged. The estimated cost is nearly Rs. 20.00 lakh. The work will be completed by 26th September 2012.

Additional space of 1300 sqft is being added at the Natural History Museum. With this, the total museum area will be 3500 sqft. Renovation works to the taxidermied specimens, dioramas of the existing museum hall are under progress.

New interactive panels on birds and mammals would be displayed. In the extended area, informative material on the evolution of animals and human being is proposed to be displayed. It is estimated to cost around Rs. 24.00 lakh. The work will be completed by 26th September 2012. A Jurassic Park will also be developed by modifying and renaming the existing prehistoric park.

Paintings of existing life size models of Brontosaurus, Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus will grace the zoon. Footpaths will be constructed to facilitate visitors’ movement. A new model of Stegosaurus would be installed and information boards erected. The cost will be around Rs 10.00 lakh and the works will be completed before 30th September 2012.

A Bird Conservation Park will also be developed. A three-acre area has been fenced and planted with the species of those trees that attract birds. Information boards on birds would be placed.



Artificial nests, bird baths and other bird rearing facilities will be arranged to showcase the best practices for bird conservation in urban areas. The cost would be around Rs 4 lakh.

An enclosure with three partitions to display small cats such as Jungle Cat, Leopard Cat and Rusty Spotted Cat is under construction. The estimated cost is about Rs. 9.7 lakh. The work will be completed by 28th September 2012. A food court with facilities for supplying multi-cuisine food is being developed. The estimated cost of this is Rs 30 lakh. The work will be completed by 30th September 2012.

Visitor amenities in the zoo will also be improved. The zoo will have new dust-free paths, road improvements, three new toilets and two new drinking water units.

[Gudavalli]

Jubilee Hills park in ruins

The bamboo park in Jubilee Hills, had everything to become a popular spot, but littering and a lack of maintenance have left it in a state.

Imagine if an overseas guest participating in the CBD wants to see some parks of Hyderabad and he chooses the bamboo park on Road No 36 in Jubilee Hills which is not far from HICC. What he will witness will ruin the image of Hyderabad and India.

Situated in a prime locality, it is one of the important theme parks open to general public. Opened in the year 2000, the bamboo park is in shambles. The craftsmen and artistes who developed the park are likely to shed tears after witnessing the current pathetic condition of the park. Spread over 6,000 square feet, this park should have been a prided asset zealously guarded by any municipal corporation.

This important park is not in the GHMC’s beautification list! The park has now been turned into a place for idlers and drunkards. One of the reasons is the close proximity of a wine shop. According to GHMC workers, these elements have damaged and stolen all the wooden artefacts, including wooden benches and wooden planks over the streams. “A night watchman is posted but he is helpless in controlling the elements,” they say.

With the Jubilee Hills police station close-by, the park has also become a place to ‘lounge’ for litigants to settle disputes.

The beautiful water ponds that should have provided home to water lilies is now a receiving point for drainage water. Streams that carried fresh water now carry this drainage from one point to another point. “It has become a mosquito breeding ground,” points out the worker, while showing her hand bitten by mosquitoes.

Maintained by the Urban Forestry department under the GHMC, the park is under the jurisdiction of the same official who takes care of other parks in Jubilee Hills Check post. “We shall be developing the park in the near future,” is the only response of the official. It is believed that the in-charge rarely visits the park. According to the forest range officer, Venkataiah the park is well maintained and various varieties of bamboos are being taken care of by the GHMC. But nothing to his claim could be seen.

The people residing in the area opine that the park under continued neglect may end up in the hands of a land shark. “Several open spaces meant for park have already been encroached in the areas of Banjara and Jubilee Hills. May be, it is one of the reasons this being an open space was turned into a park. But what is the use, when no one enjoy the beauty,” laments, P Sharath, a regular visitor.

The City has some 12 theme parks, under GHMC. This park is under direct supervision of GHMC. Even though the additional commissioner, P Anuradha maintains that Rs.8.6 crore is being utilised for the COP for parks and medians, this theme park does not seem to be in the priority list.

The official maintains that all the theme parks are getting a facelift, as part of the upcoming COP, but no activity could be seen near the park, except anti-social elements. “Even this bamboo theme park is under renovation. We have ordered special species of bamboos from West Bengal and Assam, the consignment will arrive,”says P Anuradha.

According to the official about 15 species of bamboos would be planted in the park in the next few days. She refutes the argument that there might be someone who would try to encroach the park. “The people who live in the surrounding areas are descent,” is her reply.

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‘Jurassic Park’ soon at city zoo

The pre-historic park facility at the Nehru Zoological Park is getting spruced up and with some addition, it will soon be presented as a Jurassic Park. Works costing to the tune of Rs.10 lakh have already been initiated at the park, which presently has three life-size dinosaur models.

The existing models are representatives of Brontosaurus, Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus and now a new life-size model of Stegosaurus, which is said to have roamed the earth during the late Jurassic Period i.e., 155 to 150 million years ago, is being set up.

The work on the new model has started and is expected to be completed by September 30, a day before the convention on biodiversity (CoP-11) meet starts in the city. “The already existing dinosaur models are also being given a fresh coat of painting and information boards detailing the world of dinosaurs are being set up,” says P. Mallikarjuna Rao, Director of State Zoos.

Not only will the pre-historic park at the zoo get renamed as ‘Jurassic Park’ during the CoP-11 but by then it will also get improved facilities including a newly-laid footpath to facilitate easy movement of visitors along the dinosaur models.

Another major work at the zoo before the CoP-11 event is providing a complete new look to the Natural History Museum. It is being expanded with an addition of 1,300 sqft space and all taxidermied specimens (animal models) are being renovated along with the dioramas.

“We are looking at providing information on the evolution of animals and human beings in the extended area at the museum,” says Mr. Rao.

Three acres at the zoo has already been fenced for the purpose of setting up a Bird Conservation Park. This facility is being planted with tree species that attract birds, while other arrangements include artificial nests, water baths and other bird rearing facilities.

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Rs 35cr granted for Durgam Cheruvu rescue

HYDERABAD: The picturesque Durgam Cheruvu will soon be restored to its pristine glory as the government on Monday sanctioned Rs 35 crore to take up various structures at the water body.

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) had moved a proposal a few months ago in view of serious threat to the tank, which is spread over 83 acres, as untreated sewage is flowing into it from nearby colonies and commercial buildings.

The Water Board has estimated that Rs 35 crore would be needed to construct two interception and diversion (I&D) structures on Madhapur and Silent Valley nalas, formation of ring bund around Durgam Cheruvu, including laying ring main, micro tunneling of pipeline and construction of manholes under phase-I and a sewerage treatment plan (STP) in the downstream of the Mallika Cheruvu under phase-II.

After numerous petitions, the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) department on Monday issued a GO (No1220) stating "government after careful examination the proposal, it was decided to accord administrative sanction to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) to take up works proposed under phase-I, at a total cost of Rs 35 crore."

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) would share the cost of the project with the former contributing Rs five crore and the APIIC picking up the bill for the remaining cost, the GO said. The government also accorded permission to GHMC to deposit their contribution with the Water Board and it asked the industries & commerce department to instruct managing director, APIIC to release/deposit their share.

The Water Board has also proposed to construct a 30 million litres a day (MLD) capacity STP in the downstream of Mallika cheruvu as the existing five MLD STP was not able to take the load. The Water Board needs 10 acre land for construction of the STP.

A joint inspection was also made by HMWS&SB, Ranga Reddy district revenue and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials five months ago to identify land.

[Gudavalli]

Explain constructions near lake

Dealing with a public interest petition challenging the land filling and construction activity by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation near the Hussainsagar lake, the High Court on Monday directed the government to give an explanation on the matter.
A division bench comprising acting chief justice PC Ghose and justice Vilas V Afzulpurkar ordered issuance of notice to the chief secretary to file a counter with full details on GHMC’s construction activity near the lake and adjourned the matter for further hearing after two weeks.
The petitioner, Jasveen Jairath, former convener of Save Our Urban Lakes (SOUL), submitted that the ongoing land filling and construction activity by the GHMC fell within the lake area. “Contrary to the court’s orders, the corporation took up construction of huge concrete pillars to put up a permanent structure for garbage vehicles,’’ she said and sought immediate halt to the construction.

[Gudavalli]

Hyderabad: Durgam Cheruvu soon to be pollution-free

Hyderabad: The highly polluted Durgam Cheruvu located near Hitech city, Madhapur is going to be restored to its pristine glory soon. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) proposes to take the construction of the Interception and Diversion (I&Ds) lines at Madhapur, formation of ring bund and laying ring main at Durgam Cheruvu under Phase-I for diversion of sewerage entering into the lake at an estimated cost of Rs 35 crore.
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is also going to contribute Rs 5 crore of the total estimate and the remaining Rs 30 crore will be provided by the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Ltd (APIIC). The polluted lake is being restored in compliance of the orders of Andhra Pradesh High Court and AP Lok Ayukta. HMWS&SB officials told Express that in May this year, the Water Board Managing Director sent a detailed proposal to the state government for restoration of the lake under Phase-I.
A ring sewer main drain of 1,000 mm diameter will be laid around the pheriphery and downstreams of the lake up to Mallika Cheruvu, which will divert the sewage water entering into the lake from three main storm water drains of Madhapur nala, Silent Valley nala and Industrial Area Local Authorities (IALA) nala. Though these are storm water drains, they bring sewage from over a dozen industrial areas called IALAs that are under the control of APIIC and residential areas of Madhapur, Kavuri Hills, Hitec City Phase-II and parts of Guttala Begumpet that form the catchment area of the lake.

Several residential and industrial belts in the catchment area of Durgam Cheruvu which do not have an underground sewage network and sewage connections from individual houses have been letting the waste into the lake. Under the Phase-II proposals for construction of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Mallika cheruvu or to construct the ring sewer main from the downstream of Mallika cheruvu upto Musi river to join the STP proposed under National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD) Project, Phase-2. The Government instructed Water Board to take up the Phase-I works without waiting for the administrative approval of NRCD Phase-2 works.

[Gudavalli]

Hyderabad: 'Only judiciary can save our lakes'

Hyderabad: While it may seem obvious that clay idols are more eco-friendly than plaster of Paris, a deeper understanding of the dangers of the use of Ganesh idols made with Plaster of Paris and iron is needed to save our lakes and other water bodies from imminent pollution.
Four crusaders against lake and environmental pollution - Abhinav Gangumalla and Santosh Banpur, founders of city-based Hyderabad Goes Green; Deepak Rao, a farmer and rain water harvesting expert; and Arun Krishnamurthy, founder-president of Environmentalist Foundation of India; give us an insight into the dangers posed by idols made with plaster of Paris or materials other than clay.

Q: Why exactly are PoP idols not good for water bodies?

Deepak Rao: It is simple. The material is not environmental-friendly. It is a chemical that does not dissolve in water and raises its toxicity over time.
Krishnamurthy: Once an idol is immersed, it disintegrates after some time. But the iron used in it as the frame sinks to the bottom while PoP settles as silt on the water-bed. This cuts down the oxygen level in the water affecting the aquatic life.
Q: Why is clay the perfect alternative to PoP?
Krishnamurthy: Clay has natural constituents. As per our tradition, idols are made with clay collected from friends and family. In places like Kolkata people still follow the tradition and clay idols are popular choices there.
Gangumalla: Clay idols, when immersed in water, begin to melt. No chemicals iare used in their making. The frame is made with eco-friendly bamboo as opposed to iron.
Deepak Rao: Clay use puts the bio-cycle in place. Using clay means collecting it from the lake. That automatically sets in place a de-silting process. Once the idols are immersed back in water, the clay settles back as silt.
Q: The fascination for PoP is a tough cookie to crumble. How best can that be tackled?
Santosh Banpur: People are beginning to realise that PoP is not eco-friendly. Over the past two years, there has been a rise in the number of clay idols being sold. Making them available in larger numbers and raising the awareness level about its advantages is one way of breaking the fascination for PoP.
Krishnamurthy: People need to understand that looking for an alternative to PoP is important. Once the lakes get poisoned, where will one look for an alternative water body? Banning PoP is necessary. But that isn’t something that can be achieved through local municipalities. There has to be a strong judicial intervention, as in the case of tiger reserves. Unless the judiciary mandates the use of clay or rather bans immersion of PoP idols in lakes and seas, there will not be a permanent solution. If you have a swimming pool at home and wish to immerse the idol, then no issue. But PoP cannot be immersed in lakes, rivers or seas.
Q: Does GHMC’s incentives to clay-idol makers make a difference? Or will making it harder for PoP artisans by levying higher taxes?
Deepak Rao: The GHMC has been supportive to the cause. They have made it easier for clay idol makers. But people’s preference is what will make the ultimate difference.

[Gudavalli]

Hyderabad: Sculpture park at Shilparamam to open soon

Hyderabad: Amazed? That’s what the sculptors claim. The blooming of art ahead of the United Nations’ 11th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity might be of little interest to the general public, in particular cynics, who consider it a huge waste of money. But for sculptors, this is turning out to be a great opportunity to showcase their skills.
The sculpture park at Shilparamam due to be inaugurated soon is spread across six acres. It has many sculptures, some made of stone, some others of scrap metal, but the main attraction is obviously the 70 ft long Gulliver pinned to the ground by a horde of Liliputs. It is the brainchild of Tejendra Singh Baoni, professor and sculptor from Karnataka Chitrakala Parishad, and Sunirmal Mity, an eminent sculptor from Shantiniketan in Kolkata. They are sure that Gulliver will be the cynosure of all eyes at Shilparamam from now on.
“We tried to bring art closer to the general public in a way that they could interact with the sculptures here. Usually, people do not understand contemporary art but we have put in efforts to reflect society through art. We could not ignore children and hence, Gulliver,” said Tejendra Singh Baoni.

Echoing his views, Sunirmal Mity agreed, “in our country, people are not very conscious and aware of art. We want them to interact with these sculptures in the same way that they relate to some movie names or famous dialogues that have become colloquial phrases. We hope these sculptures present here too make an impression on the public consciousness like that.” He termed the move to have a sculpture park novel, pointing out that this is a new concept in the country itself.
Both Tejendra Singh Baoni and Sunirmal Mity have been working on the Gulliver’s metal sculpture for over a month and are confident of finishing their work in the coming days. “This will remain an open museum as the Gulliver’s sculpture if properly maintained will have a life span of over 50 years and probably nobody in the country has ever tried this sort of a metal structure. The sculptures made of stone will last for the next 900 years,” explained Tejendra Singh Baoni.
Some of the metal sculptures include a rooster fight, peacock, scorpion, crocodile, snake etc. As many as 64 sculptures carved out by 38 sculptors are being exhibited here. Sculptors, basically students and upcoming artisans, were drawn from all over the country. While from Andhra Pradesh, 15 were drafted in, 7 came from West Bengal, 5 from Gujarat, 3 from Karnataka, 2 each from Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi, and one each from Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Chhattisgarh.
The inauguration of the sculpture park which was scheduled for Friday has been postponed indefinitely.

[Gudavalli]

Why Hyderabad should save its Hussain Sagar Lake

Let’s begin with a statutory warning. Visiting the Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad after the Ganesh immersion on 29 September could be injurious to your eyes, particularly if you are concerned about the state of India’s water bodies.

As luck would have it, the city is playing host to over 8,000 delegates from 193 countries at the prestigious 19-day Conference on Biological Diversity starting 1 October. This Global Biodiversity meet is billed as one of the biggest events to be held in India. And if any of those environmentalists visit the lake, they would find lumps of plaster of paris of 30,000 Ganesh idols floating around. There is no way the municipal workers can clear off the mess in less than 24 hours. Every year they take up to a week or even 10 days.

Even as Hyderabad indulges in window dressing for the conference, putting up temporary green cover to impress the delegates, the state of the 451-year-old lake would expose its tall claims. During the 10-day Ganesh festival, the idols translate into about 20,000 tonnes of plaster of paris and 300 tons of iron. A survey in 2009 showed that the Chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD) in the lake (both measures to check the level of pollution in water) shot up dramatically after the festival. The COD jumped from 141 to 580 and BOD increased from 50 to 145.

But it would be unfair to make the Elephant God the villain of the piece. The fact remains that for years now the Hussain Sagar Lake has been a victim of the lust of land sharks and converted into a virtual garbage bin. During the times of the Qutab Shahi and Asaf Jahi rulers, building tanks and creating lakes was considered a sacred activity. The Hussain Sagar Lake built in 1561, thirty years before the Charminar, served as a drinking water source till 1930. The water body was famous for its aquatic life and the delicious murrel fish in particular. Now the biodiversity index report that will be released during the conference admits a huge decline in the number of fish species, from 78 to 12 in the city lakes. No wonder that when students of a school in Hyderabad collected water from Hussain Sagar Lake and Shamirpet lake as part of a project in January this year, they reported that the former was jet black while the latter resembled the urine of a person suffering from jaundice.

The original size of the Hussain Sagar Lake which for all practical purposes divides Hyderabad and Secunderabad, was 1,600 hectares. In 1995, National Remote Sensing Agency imagery declared its size was 416 hectares, which meant 3/4th of its area had been eaten away. Five years later, the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) issued a notification, where it put the area of the lake at 549 hectares. Despite a directive by the Andhra Pradesh High Court in 2001 that no permanent structure should be built near the water spread or the catchment area of the lake, violations in the name of promoting tourism have been more the norm than the exception. A popular but sad joke is that one day, the Buddha statue in the middle of the lake would end up as a traffic intersection. Unfortunate for a city once known as the city of lakes.

Getting shrunk in the face of continuous onslaught is not the only problem. An equally big menace is that of sewage and pollutants being dumped into lakes all over the city. The Hussain Sagar Lake for instance has sewage from four nallahs dumped into it, with environmentalists dubbing the sewage treatment plant (STP) located inside the lake as an eyewash. The fear is that one day the lake will end up as a large sewage effluent tank in the heart of Hyderabad.

In fact, the groundwater of any area within a radius of 5 km from the Hussainsagar is highly contaminated. Residents who have got borewell water tested have found the E.coli presence 20 times more than the permissible limit. Take bath with this borewell water at your own risk, is the advice given to those living in Hussainsagar’s neighbourhood.

Worse is the abuse the Hussainsagar is subjected to. Studies have shown the cadmium level in the sludge of the lake is very high, thanks mainly due to industrial effluents from the unorganised sector of steel galvanising and electroplating units that come into it through different unmonitored nallahs.

In 2004, HUDA had announced a Rs 300 crore Japan Bank International Cooperation (JBIC) aided project to prevent pollution of the Hussainsagar. It even announced that by 2010, pollution in the lake will be a thing of the past. That has not happened and worse, the project is in fact encroaching into the lake area, with a new STP built on the lake bed.

At one point in time, if you claimed to be a good swimmer, you had to prove it by swimming till the Rock of Gibraltar in the middle of the Hussainsagar lake and come back. Today the feat is considered next to impossible, with the stench of the lake proving a huge challenge. International sailors in the past have grumbled about having to take part in a sailing championship in a lake of such poor water quality.

Perhaps some drastic action is what the doctor would order. Like in January 1922, when the entire water of Hussainsagar was taken out for desilting and then filled with fresh rainwater.

Hyderabad owes it to the Hussainsagar. The lake has been a witness to history as it was on the banks of the Hussainsagar that the first truce between Golconda ruled by Abdullah Qutab Shah and the Mughals commanded by Aurangzeb was negotiated in the mid-1600s. Four hundred years on, the lake is pleading for truce once again.

[Gudavalli]

15 lakes around Hyderabad to have their boundaries demarcated

Fifteen lakes in the city peripheries could get their boundaries demarcated and pillars planted in the coming months as per recent directions from Ranga Reddy District Collector, A. Vani Prasad.

In a meeting held recently with the Revenue, GHMC, Irrigation and other officials, the Collector has asked the latter to take up works pertaining to these lakes on priority, as court cases are pending over their protection.

Survey next month

Civil society activists and groups have filed a number of Public Interest Litigations (PIL) over encroachments within the Full Tank Level (FTL) of these lakes.

The lakes for which FTL demarcation will be done include Eerla Cheruvu in Madinaguda, Gangaram Pedda Cheruvu and Lingamkunta in Chandanagar, Yellammakunta, Khajakunta and Pariki Cheruvu in Kukatpally, Patel Cheruvu in Miyapur, Ambeer Cheruvu in Quthbullahpur, Boini Cheruvu in Balanagar, Suleiman Cheruvu and Oora Cheruvu in Rajendranagar, Tammidikunta and Medikunta in Khanamet, Pedda Cheruvu in Ramanthapur, and Maqtha Mahabubpet Cheruvu in Serilingampally.

Ms. Prasad has directed officials to see to it that the survey of these lakes is taken up next month so that their coordinates can be fixed and superimposed on the revenue maps. FTLs for each lake are to be fixed and pillars are to be planted to demarcate them.

Funds for the same could be tied up with either the GHMC or HMDA, as the district does not have any fund allocation earmarked for it, officials said.

For early completion of works, teams of four members each will be formed with officials from GHMC North Tanks Division, Survey Department, and Revenue Department and made responsible for works pertaining to a few lakes each, they said.

FTL demarcations

According to a study conducted earlier, 99 of the 127 water bodies identified for protection in the city peripheries have encroached to various extents.

Of them, FTL demarcations have been done for 54 tanks, though they are not superimposed on the revenue maps as yet.

The Collector has reportedly asked the Survey and Land Records officials to take steps to complete the superimposition of the survey work for these tanks within 10 days.

[Gudavalli]

Duplicity of authorities killing parks

Parks are an ideal getaway from the busy city life. They are also an excellent stress-buster. One can relax and feel rejuvenated by spending a few quiet moments in these serene parks. These parks provide the perfect setting for kids to play .

Today, citizens who stay next door exchange pleasantries through the latest technologies such as mobile phones, email and social networks because of their busy lives and lack of a common place to meet.

Once upon a time, these green areas acted as a point for people of different ages to gather and discuss various issues, especially for the people in the colony.

Who owns the parks?

GHMC: We have 18 circles in Hyderabad for better administration but you will not be able to find more than three to five good parks in each circle. The same GHMC administration maintains outdated and inaccurate information on their website (www.ghmc.gov.in/parks/parks.asp).

The small parks in the GHMC areas are grossly neglected, misused and being encroached by both government agencies and private parties. The crux of the problem lies in the duplicity of authorities. Some come under the forest department, some under the HMDA and some under the GHMC. And many are under the control of encroachers.

The trouble is that most delegates check for information online and the GHMC website would prove to be a shame.

Some parks in the City are under the urban forestry wing maintained by HMDA by classifying them under different categories: theme parks, colony parks, lake/STP parks, temple park, walkway gardens, memorial parks, medians and rotaries. Most of them are not maintained properly.

Linking with CoP

Today, with the CoP event, the GHMC officials are trying to showcase Hyderabad as a beautiful city, but tax payers living here know more about their City’s problems. Citizens are more worried about the way in which money is spent in the name of beautification for City dividers, road margins, which may not last for a long time.

One good thing the GHMC has done is that they have constructed walls around parks in most places to prevent encroachments; the bad part is most of them are left deserted and lack basic facilities.

Bigger Parks

Our government takes special care of the revenue generating ones. Parks such as Lumbini Park, Public Gardens, Sanjeevaiah Park, KBR Park and Vengalarao park are more for tourism purposes. The common citizens don’t have a good park in their locality. And the same common citizen cannot come from Kukatpally to Indira Park or Lumbini Park everyday just to unwind.

One of the officials stated that Shilparamam is a good park in Cyberabad zone. Perhaps he needs to learn and understand the difference between a park and an arts, crafts and cultural village.The absence of good parks in every locality forces many citizens to go to other areas.

Many of us are not aware about what made older generations healthy and fit. The fact is they have had relaxed evenings. They used to spend time in a park where they got fresh air and could walk. But today, the younger generation prefers malls or gyms over parks. This could be because parks lack the basic amenities.

On the other hand, I welcome the decision made by GHMC of making walking tracks near lakes if they have ensured that no damage is caused to the water body.Today, most of the parks have become a lovers spot and are restricted to a few people. Some strict rules and regulations should be framed.

[World8115]

Durgam Cheruvu clean-up today

Art of Living, Hyderabad, along with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) will start cleaning up the Durgam Cheruvu on Tuesday from 7 am. The drive is expected to continue till 1 pm. Once a picturesque lake, Durgam Cheruvu is filled with drains, weeds and garbage; so, the Art of Living has decided to improve the condition of the lake.

The filthy water, foul smell, innumerable mosquitoes and stray animals have negatively impacted the lake. The lake and its surroundings have been damaged by the inflow of drain water and lack of maintenance. So, on the Gandhi Jayanti, the clean-up work would be initiated as the first step to remove all the weeds and clear the debris in and around the lake.

Besides, over the coming weeks activities like tree plantation, interaction with local bodies and nearby apartments, talking to passers-by, and educating people in slums would be taken up. Interested candidates can join in the activity.

[Gudavalli]

‘Make lake clean-up a priority’

HYDERABAD: Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday directed Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) to speed up the project to clean-up Hussainsagar and complete it on a war footing. He also told officials that all lakes in and around Hyderabad and in Rangareddy district had to be protected.

These directives were made at an HMDA review meeting chaired by the CM. According to a news release, HMDA has proposed to take up eight new projects in the coming year at a cost of Rs 3,300 crore. The new projects would be taken up in the PPP mode.

The CM also told HMDA to prioritize the work on the radial roads in the city with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) set to provide assistance in this area.

The eight new projects include launch of the Clean Hussainsagar Campaign, Intelligence Transport System on Outer Ring Road, Transit-Oriented Development of metro stations, Integrated Commuter Terminal at Secunderabad railway station and the Musi Improvement Project.

The Hussainsagar Lake & Catchment Area Improvement Project (HCIP) funded by JICA at Rs 370 crores will ensure the clean-up and restoration of the iconic lake. The main aim of the project is to maintain round-the-year water level in the lake at 513.4m and improve the water quality to SW2 standards of the Central Pollution Control Board.

According to HMDA, Hyderabad will be the first city in the country to implement the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) for ORR and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Area. As regards the project for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), it is one that promotes a mixed-use of land for residential and commercial activities to minimize the need for transport and maximize access to public transport and often incorporates features to encourage transit ridership (metro/suburban). A TOD neighbourhood typically has a centre with a train/transit station, metro station or a high-capacity bus stop surrounded by relatively high-density development with progressively lower-density development spreading outwards from the centre.

On the Integrated Commuter Terminal, HMDA said there was a need for developing an Integrated Commuter Terminal at Secunderabad railway station and suggested it may develop the same within the Old Gandhi Hospital land allotted for a metro station.

The Integrated Commuter Terminal will have integrated interchange facilities i.e., inter-city train, MMTS, metro, bus, Intermediate Para Transit (taxis, autorickshaws), adequate parking facilities, etc..

[Gudavalli]

People to be involved in lake cleaning

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) will soon launch “Swacchamaina Hussain Sagar - Sukhamaina Jeevitam” campaign involving the public.
The decision was taken at a review meeting with chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday at Secretariat.
The campaign of people’s movement is titled as “Swacchamayna Hussain Sagar, Sukhumyna Jeevitam”. This includes formation of forum for clean Hussain Sagar, people’s engagement and building of participation through different activities, photography, painting, film or videos, rallies, runs and debates on Hussain Sagar. The programme will be later extended to other lakes in the city.

[Prodigist]

Here's a detailed Powerpoint presentation put up by HMDA on their website on the Hussain Sagar Improvement Project.

[Gudavalli]

Solitude of zoo animals likely to end

The long wait of animals forced to live in isolation at the state’s three zoological parks ends now. Matured animals including birds and reptiles living alone for more than one year will be provided with a fixed male or female companion, according to a new programme taken up by the zoos’ officials.
The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has recently issued a circular to all the zoological parks in the country asking them to ensure that no animal is kept in solitude without a valid reason as per Section 38H of the Wildlife (protection) Act 1972.
At present, about 75 mammals, birds and reptiles have been living in solitude for 10 years at the Nehru zoological park in Hyderabad, Venkateswara zoo in Tirupati and Indira Gandhi zoo in Visakhapatnam, according to the records of the zoos.
P Mallikarjuna Rao, director of the AP zoological parks, said, “We have launched a programme to find suitable companion under our animal exchange programme. In the next six months, we will ensure that no animal would lead a life of solitude in all the three zoological parks in the state.” However, Dr B Srinivasa Reddy, vet assistant surgeon at the city zoo, expressed his fears that the animals might indulge in unhealthy sexual practices if they stayed with the same gender animals for a long time.

[Gudavalli]

Sculpting bougainvillea to suit landscape

Bougainvilleas can be used as landscape element in the form of canopies dotting the garden with steel framework in tree form. This is a synthesis of architecture and landscape, write A.B. Reddy and Anoosha Balmoori

Bougainvillea is a genus of flowering plants native to South America. This is also referred as paper flower (kagitapu puvvu) as the bracts of the flowers are thin and papery.

They are thorny, woody vines growing anywhere from 1 to 12 metres tall, scrambling over other plants with their spiky thorns.

They are evergreen where rainfall occurs all year, or deciduous if there is a dry season.

The actual flower of the plant is small and generally white, but each cluster of three flowers is surrounded by three or six bracts with the bright colours associated with the plant, including pink, magenta, purple, red, orange, white, or yellow.

Bougainvilleas are popular ornamental plants in most areas with warm climates. Bougainvillea can be used as a houseplant or hanging basket in cooler climates. In the landscape, it makes an excellent hot season plant, and its drought tolerance makes it ideal for warm climates year-round.

It can be pruned into a standard, but is also grown along fence lines, on walls, in containers and hanging baskets, and as a hedge or an accent plant.

Its long arching thorny branches bear heart-shaped leaves and masses of papery bracts in different colours.

When we impose a geometric order on the landscape, we inhabit the landscape with human thought. When they do, they are referring to the prominent, permanent elements that give form and structure to their landscapes which give the site a character.

Likewise we come across such type of landscape structures by Emmett Wemple and Dan Kiley, who were the landscape architects of The Getty Center of Los Angeles, USA. They made use of Bougainvilleas as their landscape element in the form of canopies dotting the garden with steel framework in the tree form. This is a synthesis of architecture and landscape.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is spending lots of money for developing parks and avenue plantation in the city and the same can be done creatively. It can use this kind of landscape elements in the parks as focal points and as avenue trees to create different types of vistas.

This can be planted to create dynamic effect in a stretch on both sides of the roads with different colours having a break of different plants to avoid monotony.

This type of elements can be easily maintainable and can withstand in all the climatic conditions of the city.

[Gudavalli]

City lakes face extinction

Osmansagar and Himayatsagar, the two major reservoirs which have been the main source of drinking water for various parts in Hyderabad for around 100 years, are now on the verge of extinction.
With numerous large scale unauthorised structures and layouts sprung around the lakes, blatantly violating the government order GO Ms 111 - for protecting reservoirs by restricting building and other development activity.
In response to the instructions issued by the metropolitan commissioner to Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), a detailed survey was carried out and the report was submitted to the commissioner and the director (planning) on unauthorised constructions and illegal layouts in Shamshabad, Shankarpally, Ghatkesar and Medchal zones.
According to the report a large number of unauthorised constructions have come up in the Shamshabad zone mostly covered under the purview of GO Ms 111.

[Gudavalli]

WWF State chief laments shrinking of lakes in Hyderabad

World Worldlife Fund organisation officials participating calling in a meeting held in connection with the COP-11 on Sunday.

WWF- India Programme Director Sejal Worah said status of Biodiversity in India is not so good and only 5 per cent of the area is declared as Protected areas in India. There is a serious need to increase the percentage of protected areas.

Hyderabad: Implementation of the targets and the commitments that the world nations have set for themselves in Nagoya Protocol is disappointing to some extent said World Worldlife Fund (WWF) on Sunday. WWF, one of the independent conservation organisations, with over 5 million supporters from over 100 countries is part of the COP-11 in Hyderabad.

Its International Policy advisor Rolf Hogan said nations were meeting in India to make key decisions on the planet’s future and they have to prove the deal they struck two years ago was not just a display of goodwill but a serious commitment. He said two years ago governments agreed to set the world on a course to help prevent further species extinctions and the decline of the world’s most valuable nature.

But since this historic achievement, many have failed to deliver on the promises and commitments made in Japan. WWF is calling on all nations who gather in Hyderabad to urgently start implementing the previously agreed targets. An overwhelming 91 per cent of Parties to the CBD have developed strategies and plans for their approach to protect nature and biodiversity. But only 14 Parties have revised their plans taking into consideration the strategic plan agreed in Nagoya, and even fewer have taken measures to integrate the services that nature provides into their development plans.

“Governments can only be serious about these targets if they are prepared to invest in achieving them. We need to see richer countries helping poorer countries and all countries increasing their domestic budgets,” said Rolf Hogan. WWF- India Programme Director Sejal Worah said status of Biodiversity in India is not so good and only 5 per cent of the area is declared as Protected areas in India. There is a serious need to increase the percentage of protected areas.

She said conservation and development are seen as different issues but both needs to be linked and a mechanism is needed to take both the issues together. We do have Biodiversity Acts but it just needs to find the way to implement it. WWF-India is coming up with new project on elephants in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu said Sejal.Andhra Pradesh has huge Biodiversity resources and Hyderabad was once known as city of lakes but today it has drastically decreased said WWF-AP Director Fareeda Tampal.

She said government needs to be more serious and other then government, public -private sectors’ coordination will help more in conservation of Biodiversity.