The Hindu               28.06.2013

HMDA wakes up to eco concerns of twin cities

Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has
decided to come out with a comprehensive Environmental Master Plan to
assess the damage to environment in the city and suburbs accrued over
the decades and to plan its protection in coming years.

A
concept plan to take stock of the status of air, water and soil is
being worked out and the urban planning body looks at initiating a study
of the key parameters of environment in coming weeks. The entire
Hyderabad Metropolitan Region (HMR) is to be covered under the exercise.

“We
have to understand where the city stands in terms of environment and
come up with a road map to be followed over the years to restore and
maintain environmental standards,” says HMDA Commissioner, Neerabh Kumar
Prasad. It will be a multi-department exercise involving Andhra Pradesh
Control Board, Forest Department, Metro Water Board and others. After a
thorough assessment of the present status, the Master Plan will unfold a
comprehensive strategy at protection of environment in phased manner.
For the purpose, the whole plan is divided into different segments such
as lakes and water bodies, conservation and adding forest area, air
quality improvement, ground water improvement and addressing the needs
of solid waste management.

The work on water bodies
has already been initiated and protection measures such as fixing full
tank levels and identifying encroachments is on, Mr. Prasad says. “A
study of green cover in the metropolitan region will be taken up to
compare it with accepted international standards. Then, we will identify
areas where there is scope for afforestation,” he says.

The
APPCB is to be roped in to suggest measures to improve the standards.
Similar will be the work on groundwater improvement while solid waste
management measures to be located outside the Greater Hyderabad
Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits are to be enlisted.

The Authority to come out with a comprehensive Environmental Master Plan to assess the damage to environment.