A Crown Jewel for Telangana State
Hyderabad emerges
as iconic green city in India
Vanam Jwala
Narasimha Rao
Hans India
(23-10-2022)
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar
Rao was, perhaps, the happiest and most honored person, in wake of Hyderabad
city bagging the prestigious 'World Green City Award-2022' at the
International Association of Horticulture Producers (AIPH), held in Jeju, South
Korea, recently. Hyderabad is the only Indian city that was selected for the 'World
Green City 2022,' award, the best across all six categories and has bagged
this beating Paris, Bogota, Mexico City, Montreal, and Fortaleza in Brazil.
Hyderabad city further bagged the 'Living Green for Economic Recovery and
Inclusive Growth Award.'
In the words of CM KCR, these
international awards have further strengthened the reputation of Telangana and
the country and are also a proof that the state government is relentlessly
implementing massive plantation and urban development programs. The award
ceremony was conducted in association with IUCN (International Union for the
Conservation of Nature) at Jeju Islands of South Korea on October 14, 2022
which were received by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA)
officials.
The International Association of
Horticultural Producers is a prestigious global organization dedicated to
promoting horticultural producers and holding international garden, flora festivals
or expositions. AIPH aims to put flower, plant and landscaping services on a
global agenda. AIPH members consist of thousands of growers of flowers and
ornamental plants around the world who are together united by one essential
goal of promoting the place of plants in people's lives.
As part of series of awards and
rewards, earlier too, Hyderabad was recognized for the '2020 Tree City of
the World' award and '2021 Tree City of the World' award by United
Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Arbor Day Foundation.
Hyderabad was also ranked the best city to live in India in the Mercer's 'Quality
of Living (India) Rankings–2019'. All this became possible due to the
massive plantations taken up under various components in Hyderabad City. These
include: Roadside multi layered avenue plantations, greenery on road central
median, tank bund plantation, development of urban parks, urban forest blocks,
dense plantations, colony/street plantations, institutional plantations,
vertical gardens, block plantations, landscape gardens, rain gardens, theme
parks, nurseries, planting homestead, flowering, ornamental plants by way of
distributing to the general public free of cost etc.
Telangana Ku Haritha Haram, meaning 'Green
necklace to the State of Telangana,' is the third largest afforestation
program in the world after Brazil and China, conceived by CM KCR and is being
implemented in the state, by the Government of Telangana, since 2015-16, with
the large-scale peoples' participation and steered by forest officials. Chief
Minister's Office has an exclusive senior, committed Indian Forest Service
Officer to monitor this unique program on a day-to-day basis. The program
envisages increasing the green cover of the State by about 10%from 24% to 33%.
It is targeted to plant and rejuvenate 230 Crores seedlings in the state.
Effectively supplementing and
complementing the efforts of Haritha Haram is the Green India Challenge concept
of Rajya Sabha Member Joginapally Santosh Kumar that evoked an unprecedented
response from across the world from high profile persons to common citizens.
Inspired by this, it is now a voluntary accepted practice to several to plant a
sapling on occasions like birthday. Forest Survey of India (FSI) in its
biennial 'India State of Forest Report' revealed that Haritha Haram has helped
in increase of the forest cover and green cover in the State.
As part of Haritha Haram, the
Hyderabad Mega City (forming part of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation
and Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority) with about 10 million
inhabitants as well as one of the fastest growing metropolises in India, which
is expected to be home to about 19 million residents by 2041, have taken up
large-scale plantation. The total forest cover in the city has been increased
substantially by way of planting about 10 crore seedlings during last seven
years. Due to intensive plantations raised in Hyderabad city, the environment
improved a lot. Annual cumulative rainfall also increased. Improvements are
seen in ground water level and abatement of air and noise pollution.
Multifold approach was adopted in
achieving the target of plantation. These include among others, a strong
political will, involving every government department, all sectors of society
including private corporate bodies, NGOs, student community, local residential
communities etc. The plants required for their homestead planting are supplied
by the Corporation at free of cost. The government has established Haritha
Nidhi (Telangana Green Funds), an innovative financing model for other States
and Nations to follow, for contribution from public Representatives, government
employees and other sections of society. 10% of budgets of the organizations
shall be incurred on greenery development. Urban forestry wings are created and
appointed personnel at different cadres and provided logistic support. In GHMC,
a separate Urban Biodiversity Wing is functioning to take up all greening
activities. HMDA raised nursery seedlings and plantations in Hyderabad to reduce
carbon footprint.
The Hyderabad city, observed
International Association of Horticulture Producers (AIPH), with about 1,350
lakes in the core area and around 3,000 lakes in the HMDA, is committed to
creation of as much bio-aesthetic environment by developing green, beautiful
and hygienic atmosphere for the citizens of twin cities as feasible. Further it
expressed the hope that, through these healthy ecosystems, it wishes to clean
water, purify air, maintain soil, regulate the climate, and recycle nutrients
with a better living environment in the city. The initiative of massive
afforestation in the city by way of very dense plantations, street plantations
and restoration of lakes has improved the green cover in the city. Further
there is a visible impact on city biodiversity observed AIPH. It further added
that, the increase in green cover decreased pollution levels when compared to
other mega cities of the country. It is evident that the initiatives taken up
are very beneficial and vital in amelioration of the environment in Hyderabad
city.
Multi-layer Avenue plantations which
are a new concept by State led to improvement of air quality, ornamental plants
gave aesthetic look and provided the awe factor to the commuters with pleasant
surroundings, avenue and shrub plantations give shade and good quality air
while the herbs provide medicinal value. Even smallest layout open spaces were
utilized for dense plantations converting into Tree Parks with walking tracks,
seating areas and fitness areas at some locations. The initiative demonstrates
evidence of a track record of success against pursued objectives observed AIPH
and for instance mentioned that Outer Ring Road of Hyderabad is Green Garland
to the city of Hyderabad and Green Corridor and Urban Lung Spaces in Hyderabad
are being used by Public for recreation and environmental education etc.
Thematic gardens like Medicinal Garden, Butterfly Garden, Rose Gardens raised
in the Sanjeevaiah Park have become a center of environmental education.
The plantations raised in Hyderabad
city became role model plantations and environmental education centers for
other cities to adopt. The Forest Department of Telangana sends all its
officers to field visits to the plantations raised in Hyderabad city to
implement same model in the state as a whole. AIPH feels that the greenery
developed in Hyderabad city has become a benchmark for other cities. And hence,
a fully deserved 'World Green City Award-2022' for Hyderabad city.
Congratulations to all those who are associated with this. END
No comments:
Post a Comment