Hyderabad: With the surge in mercury levels, the GHMC and the HMDA have decided to enhance the green space requirement from 20 per cent to 30 per cent for all future constructions in the city.
Both the departments have prepared proposals to make 50 per cent greenery in gated communities mandatory and will write to the state government to include the provision in the new Municipal Act that is being drafted.
Both nodal agencies have decided to make 30 per cent greenery a must in all government buildings including police stations, hospitals, and offices. In order to compensate the built-up area due to the enhancement of green space, they will allow additional floors.
According to highly placed sources, town planning department officials who gathered on World Environment Day on June 5 discussed the increase in green space for all future constructions.
The gathering was attended by urban forestry officials and environmental experts, who claimed that due to axing of trees in the last four years for infrastructure projects and violations by builders, city temperatures not just in summer but in all seasons have risen by 2.5 degrees during the past two years.
They observed that though the state government has made it mandatory to maintain 20 per cent greenery in the layouts, builders have been conveniently increasing the built-up area and showing scattered greenery by planting saplings all over the layout. Officials observed that the builders have encroached footpaths and roads for planting saplings.
K. Srinivas Rao chairman, Institute of Town Planners India, Telangana Chapter and director, planning, said that in order to contain the effects of the soaring temperatures, the GHMC has decided to bring in changes in the Tot-Lot area (organised open garden space).
He said that it would be mandatory for gated communities to maintain 50 per cent greenery and the green space in apartments and individual houses will be increased to 20 per cent to 30 per cent.
Mr Rao said that government buildings should maintain 30 per cent greenery in its premises. He said that it would be mandatory to plant trees surrounding the building area.
The official said some other changes would be made pertaining to cellar constructions, which will be sent to the government with the suggestion that they be included in the new Municipal Act.
He said that occupancy certificates must only be issued after inspecting the building and verifying whether the builders had left the mandatory green space or not.
