Hyderabad: Citizens rally against shrink KBR eco-sensitive zone' order

Hyderabad: Many citizens staged a protest against the government for shrinking the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of the Kasu Brahmananda Reddy (KBR) National Park.

Holding a rally outside the park’s main gate on Sunday, they requested the Union forest ministry to act on their behalf.

Mr Suruchi Singh, a lawyer, said, “KBR is a national park and deserves to be protected. The primary role of the environment minister is not to approve projects but to protect the environment.”

Approval was given to shrink the walkway around the park to three metres. Trees are being cut in the area. The government needs the space to build flyover as part of the Strategic Road Development Programme.

Protesters said the government should explore sustainable alternatives to overcome traffic problems, such as improving mass transit facilities.

Mr Prashant Bachu, an urban transport specialist, said, “Flyovers can ease the traffic over a certain junction but the travel time to the destination remains the same. The world over, cities are now demolishing flyovers to solve traffic congestion.”

Ms Kaajal Maheshwari, an activist, said, “Hyderabad has the lowest green percentage of 7.6 per cent among other cities, and has seen the sharpest decline in green cover in the last 20 years. Climate change is real and we are experiencing temperatures of 45ºC. Instead of preserving and improving what makes this city livable, we are actually racing to go the Delhi way,” she said.