Three urban forest parks in massive green thrust to Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Stressing the thumb rule of 'Nature protests us, if we protect it," the civic body of the city has decided to go in for major greening of the concrete jungle that Hyderabad is fast becoming. Urban forests act essentially as lungs of the city. Focusing on their importance environmentally and impact on public health, the GHMC is taking efforts to develop three urban forest parks at Suraram, Madannaguda and Nadergul this year.

With primary focus on increasing the density of native forest trees, these parks will also have amenities for visitors. This initiative will be part of Telangana Ku Haritha Haram (TKHH), the flagship programme of the State Government towards increasing green cover. GHMC will be taking up tree plantation under various categories like Avenue Plantations, Colony Plantations, Institutional Plantations, Open Space Plantations and Graveyard Plantations.

In the ensuing sixth phase of the Haritha Haram project, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has prepared an action plan for planting 50 lakh saplings in all the zones.

According to officials, the increased Green Cover will not only control pollution and temperature, but also gives aesthetic value. For the year 2020-21, GHMC has prepared an action plan for planting 50 lakh saplings under TKHH programme in all Zones.

Avenue plantations are planned along major roads and minor roads and in colonies. The other places include lake surroundings, nalas and Musi river. "This year avenue plantations and green curtains will be taken up in an organised manner, along all the roads in all zones. The lakes in GHMC area will be taken up with very dense plantations on bunds and buffer areas. All the GHMC open spaces will be converted into tree parks by planting trees and providing walking tracks. The open spaces will be converted as public spaces with green environment," informed GHMC commissioner, DS Lokesh Kumar.

Shedding more light on the TKHH to The Hans India, Naagi Reddy, director, Urban Biodiversity wing, GHMC, said, "The targets are constantly changing everyday so is the types of plants. Once we are done with the final list in the next few days,we will update it soon."

The plantations at colony roads and other available areas will be completed by involving RWAs, whose active participation is sought to achieve this. GHMC is also taking up of Miyawaki Plantations this year to develop dense green lung spaces in the City. The action plan also includes planting of trees, hedges and shrubs under flyovers, medians and parks.