KTR stresses citizens' involvement to develop parks

Hyderabad: Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister KT Rama Rao said on Tuesday that residential welfare associations, walkers associations and other citizens forums would be involved in the development of parks around Hyderabad.

In addition to greenery, Rama Rao, who held a review meeting, urged the officials to develop tourist facilities to enable people spend time at the parks. “On the lines of KBR Park, a walkway will be developed along Musi river as part of Musi Riverfront Project,” he said.

Under the Forest department’s flagship programme ‘Haritha Haram’, plantations will be taken up for developing forest blocks. A project monitoring unit will be established within the Forest department for developing parks in and around Hyderabad city. Avenue plantation will be taken up along ORR with colourful trees every 10 km. All Urban local Bodies (ULBs) in the State have been directed to develop avenue plantation in their areas and also take up nursery development with the help of forest department.

The Minister wanted the officials to close empty quarries and garbage dumpyards by covering them with soil for development as parks. The officials were directed to identify heritage rocks and develop them into tourist spots.

Chief Secretary SK Joshi asked the officials to take each forest block as a unique project and develop them with involvement of government departments, private organisations and individuals. He wanted the officials to prepare a framework and ensure that forest blocks serve as recreation centres for people of the city.

Principal Secretary for Forest Rajath Kumar, GHMC Commissioner G Janardhan Reddy, Tourism Secretary B Venkatesham, HMDA Commissioner Chiranjeevulu, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests PK Jha and other officials were present.