Hyderabad: Stressing on the need for companies to adopt and preserve lakes in the city, Governor of the twin states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana E.S.L. Narasimhan urged the authorities to conserve rivers through the private-public participation. At the mega rally for rivers at Gachibowli on Thursday, the governor said all stakeholders must care for water.
The event, which was attended by thousands of people, stressed on the importance of lake protection.
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, founder of Isha Foundation, is leading the rally for a national policy on rivers and lauded the goverment’s focus on greening the state. “Telangana has already managed to conserve 70 per cent of trees. The state must sharpen focus to protect the rivers,” said Sadhguru.
“Hyderabad is a city of lakes and so we must work together to replenish the lakes and the soil around them by planting trees,” said MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy. He added the Mission Kakatiya of the Telangana government to revive 46,000 ponds was keeping in line with Rally for Rivers.
Mr Harish Rao, state irrigation minister, said that the Telangana government was focussing on increasing the greenery of the state to save water.
“The Haritha Haram project is the third biggest non-commercial human effort in the world. We are on the right path,” said Mr Rao. He added that majority of the forests were not dense enough and the Haritha Haram would will change this. “Adilabad has 30 per cent forest cover so the rainfall there is 1,100 mm, whereas Medak and Nalgonda have a poor green cover and the rainfall in this area is 700mm. Forests can make a huge difference. We hope to have at least 33 per cent green cover,” added the minister.
