Photo by GHMC
Photo by GHMC
Photo by GHMC
Photo by GHMC
Photo by GHMC
Photo by GHMC
Photo by GHMC
Photo by GHMC
Hyderabad is Mega city (10 million inhabitants) and one of the fastest growing metropolises in India, which is expected to be home to about 19 million residents by 2041. City is managed by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) in the core area comprising 650 sq. km. and by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) beyond GHMC limits with an area 7257 Km2. Hyderabad is the only city from India to have been recognized with Tree Cities of the World for the year 2020 for its commitment to growing and maintaining Urban Forests.
Hyderabad, famous for lakes, has around 1,350 lakes occupying an area of 2,000 ha. in the core area and around 3000 lakes in the HMDA area with total area of more than 32,250 ha. Lake Hussain Sagar, Hyderabad, India, the World’s largest heart shaped lake was officially declared as the “Heart of the World” by United Nations World Tourism Organization on 27th September 2012 on World Tourism Day 2012.
Telangana Ku Haritha Haram (TKHH), meaning ‘Green necklace to the State of Telangana’ is a flagship program which is a large-scale tree-planting program implemented by the Government of Telangana since 2015-16. The program envisages increasing the tree cover of the State from present 24% to 33% of the total geographical area of the State.
In Hyderabad city massive plantations were taken up under various components like Avenue Plantation, Multi-layered Avenue plantations, Miyawaki plantations, Barren Hill Afforestation, Institutional plantations, Homestead plantations, Tank foreshore, Canal Bank, Riverbank and Rivulets, industrial parks. Creation of Smrithi vanams, Greenery under flyovers, vertical gardens, Planting in Urban Residential Colonies involving all stakeholders.
Few Details:
Due to intensive plantations raised in Hyderabad city over last (6) years, the environment improved a lot. Annual cumulative rainfall (mm) from 01/06/2021 to 11/03/2022 Actual – 6958.7; Normal – 5255.6; Deviation (%) – 232 of Hyderabad City limits (HMDA area) is far higher than that of the State Cumulative Rainfall (mm) Actual – 1138.5; Normal – 861.2; Deviation (%) – 32. Improvements are seen in ground water level and abatement of Air, Noise pollution.
The resident associations of the city have raised plantations at their homesteads & colonies adopting 760 colony parks and their maintenance. Remarkable increase in the green cover noticed as per FSI report by 48.66 Sq. Kms. i.e., from 33.15 Sq. Kms in 2011 to 81.81 Sq. Kms in 2021. Importantly, the aim is to inculcate the right attitude towards trees and green environment in the younger generation.