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GHMC fears delay in skyway project at KBR
The controversial Strategic Road Development Plan (SRDP) project at the KBR National Park will be further delayed. With the National Green Tribunal (NGT) vacating the stay order, the state government will now have to seek the permission of the Centre to take up the project at the KBR junction.
Hyderabad: The controversial Strategic Road Development Plan (SRDP) project at the KBR National Park will be further delayed. With the National Green Tribunal (NGT) vacating the stay order, the state government will now have to seek the permission of the Centre to take up the project at the KBR junction.
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials say the clearance process would take at least eight months. Local activists and residents approached the NGT last year demanding the scrapping of the project to prevent axing of hundreds of trees and acquisition of the park walkway.
Responding to the petition, the NGT in its verdict said the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) would take an appropriate decision, including on the issue of publishing a revised draft notification pertaining to the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of the state government. The state government had proposed to the MoEF to decrease the ESZ of the KBR Park from the existing 25-35 metres to zero metres.
When queried about the same subject, a senior GHMC official said Hyderabad district authorities will once again issue the draft notification seeking objections and suggestions for taking up the SRDP at KBR corridor. The GHMC has proposed to construct six skyways near the KBR corridor.
He said the project also needs clearance from the Urban Forestry Department in order to get the nod from the MoEF&CC. He said the state government take at least two months to complete the process and the Centre will take another six months to examine the pros and cons of the SRDP at KBR Park.
The GHMC official further said the civic body had started the land acquisition process and already acquired about 50 properties. He said the GHMC even paid Rs 426.82 crore for acquiring land and properties. He said some NGOs with vested interests have been spreading rumours that the corporation would axe about 3,000 trees in the park.
He also made it clear that the GHMC would remove 1,394 trees as part of the SRDP most of them would be relocated. Besides, the corporation would pay compensation for the trees felled and would plant three saplings for each tree axed, he said.
