Deer Park eco-sensitive zone may be reduced
Local people fear property prices will crash if the 5-km radius norm came into force
The state government would press for a smaller eco-sensitive zone around the National Deer Park in Chilkur on city outskirts.
The Union environment ministry in February 2017 issued a draft notification notifying a 5-km radius for the eco-sensitive zone. The final notification was expected soon.
The government received representations from locals, builders and industrialists expressing concern over development taking a hit in areas falling in the buffer zone.
They pointed out that the city outskirts was already affected by GO 111, which barred construction activity in 84 villages in the 10-km radius of Osmansagar and Himayatsagar lakes. The 5km eco-sensitive zone would deal a double blow, they said.
The move came when the state government had constituted a committee of senior officials to examine the abolition of GO 111, which, they said, was obstructing development of several villages abetting Hyderabad. The move for the 5-km eco zone would mean that GO 111 abolition would serve no purpose.
They wanted the zone radius to be cut down to 1 km or even up to 500 m.
The State Government decided to pursue the case with Centre before the final notification was released.
A meeting convened by environment and forest minister Jogu Ramanna with officials decided to take up the issue with the Centre. As many as 15 villages would fall in the 5-km radius of the National Deer Park. Of these, six were in Moinabad mandal and the rest in Rajendranagar mandal.
Villages in Moinabad include Chilkur, Himayatnagar, Bandlaguda, Nakkalapalle, Ibrahimpur and Aziznagar.
Those in Rajendranagar were Narsingi, Manchirevula, Kokapet, Peeramcheruvu, Himayatsagar, Hydarshakote, Neknampur, Bairamulguda and Gandhamguda.
Of the 15 villages in 5-km radius of the park, six were already covered by GO 111.
The remaining villages were witnessing quick development with several realty projects, raising the land value.
Locals feared there would be no takers for their lands and property prices would crash if the 5-km radius norm came into force.
The draft notification of the Deer Park already reduced buffer zone radius towards Manchirevula to 3 km from 5 km to exempt the financial district in Cyberabad.
The state government wanted further reduction of radius to 1 km around the park to take up various development projects in villages abetting Hyderabad to meet the city's future expansion.
LOCALS, BUILDERS and industrialists want the zone radius to be cut down to 1 km or even less up to 500 m.
AS MANY AS 15 villages would fall in the 5-km radius of the National Deer Park.
The Telangana state government’s landmark decision of supplying 24x7 power to the farm sector will help also help boost the industrial development in rural areas. Beginning January 1, 3-phase power supply has been made available across the state. This uninterrupted power is also enabling industrialists to set up units in rural areas.
All this while, adequate power supply was a major hurdle in setting up industrial units in rural areas. Now, the state government expects that entrepreneurs and industrialists will find it attractive to set up units in rural areas.
The urban areas had been the hub of industrial activity hitherto. But power cuts were an insurmountable issue there too. Consequently, a large number of industrial units couldn’t keep up production activity, slipped into financial distress and eventually even closed down. According to officials, about 7,000 units closed due to several problems in the state main the erratic power supply. Now these units are likely to revive with the 24x7 power supply.
A senior officer said industries can be set up in rural areas where raw material is easier to source.
Granite quarries located in Karimnagar and other places had to transport granite long distances to factories that power and facilities to cut stones. Granite industries were located in urban areas where power is available.
With power available in rural areas granite factories can be set up close to quarries, enabling enormous savings in transportation costs.
Among the other benefits, tractor and other heavy vehicles no longer need to be taken to the nearest town for repairs; service centres can shift to rural areas.
Industrialist and former Fapcci president Atluri Subba Rao, said the initiative will lead to setting up of industries in rural areas.
Till last year, the government supplied power to the farm sector for nine hours a day. After the nine-hour period, the power supply was whittled down to single phase. This will make a significant difference to life in rural areas.
There are also many self-employment schemes introduced by the government. With the financial assistance by the state government, youth can set up various kinds of units in rural areas.
TS Transco chairman and MD D. Prabhakar Rao said that the objective of 24x7 power supply to farm sector was to help not just the farmers but also to help industrial growth in rural areas.
Mr Rao said Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s aim was to develop rural areas on par with urban areas in the context of industries. The 24x7 power supply to the farm sector will help industrial development in rural areas also. This will create employment opportunities in rural areas, he said.