Lake-wise master plan on anvil: KT Rama Rao
Hyderabad: For protection and conservation of tanks and lakes in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation area, the State government will soon come up with a lake-wise master plan to define the boundaries of water bodies and their Full Tank Level (FTL) areas, prevent encroachments, diversion of sewage canals, and also take up beautification works. The […]
Hyderabad: For protection and conservation of tanks and lakes in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation area, the State government will soon come up with a lake-wise master plan to define the boundaries of water bodies and their Full Tank Level (FTL) areas, prevent encroachments, diversion of sewage canals, and also take up beautification works. The government has already initiated several measures for the protection and conservation of about 185 tanks and lakes identified under GHMC limits.
Responding to questions in the State Legislative Assembly during Question Hour on Monday, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister KT Rama Rao said the government was taking measures such as chain-link mesh fencing, beautification of bunds, development of walking tracks, diversion of sewage water and integrated tank development, for protection of lakes and tanks in Hyderabad. Of the 185 tanks identified under GHMC limits, the government took up the development of 127 tanks at a cost of Rs 407.3 crore. Around Rs 218 crore have already been spent on the development of all these tanks and completed works at 48 tanks.
Similarly, the government launched the beautification of 63 tanks at a cost of Rs 94 crore and works have been completed in 48 tanks under the GHMC area while the remaining are in progress. Around 19 tanks have been revived at a cost of Rs 282.63 crore under Mission Kakatiya Urban. Repairs and restoration of 45 tanks have been taken up at a cost of Rs 30 crore. Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao recently approved Rs 3,866 crore for setting up 31 new Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in Hyderabad to make the city cent per cent sewage treatment city in the next two years, he said. While only 772 MLDs of sewage was being treated with the available STPs, plans are afoot to treat the entire 1,600 MLD sewage generated in the city.
Admitting that several tanks were destroyed over the years in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, the Minister said the Telangana government was committed to strengthen the tanks and protect them. He said a Special Commissioner for Lakes will be appointed in GHMC soon for the first time, to protect and develop existing tanks. The Special Commissioner also will be responsible for forming Lake Protection Committees to monitor and take action against any encroachments, relief and rehabilitation of those living on the encroached areas.
He assured that the government will deal with a humane approach in case of evacuation of the poor and the weaker sections who encroached on the tank bunds. “We will convene a meeting with all MLAs of GHMC area on the Assembly premises on Wednesday, to discuss the issue in-depth,” Rama Rao said. He made it clear that no construction work will be allowed in Shikham Patta lands in the FTL area or even tanks, but the government was ready to compensate the private persons with 400 per cent Transferable Development Rights (TDR).
Nala encroachments
Responding to questions on encroachment of nalas or storm-water drainages in the city, Rama Rao said nala encroachments had become a major challenge for the GHMC authorities. He pointed out that officials, however, had removed over 3,000 encroachments and expanded the nalas in the Chandrayangutta area, besides rehabilitating all those who were evacuated. “We request the elected representatives from all political parties to cooperate with the government for removing nala encroachments. Politics should not come in the way of development,” he asserted.
The Minister said the State government would adopt a RRR mantra — remove encroachments, rehabilitate families immediately and retain nala width simultaneously. He said of the 90,000 double bedroom houses being constructed in GHMC, around 65,000 houses were completed. He said that he would appeal to the Chief Minister as well as the Housing Minister to set aside 20,000-25,000 houses exclusively for rehabilitation of the poor families who encroached on nalas.
Also read: Orders issued for Special Cell to protect Hyderabad’s lakes
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