Hyderabad: The National Green Tribunal, Chennai, has given its final order over the Strategic Road Development Plan (SRDP) around KBR Park.
It directed the Union environment and forests ministry (MoEF) to take a final decision on the Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) status for the Park that is one of the few lung spaces in the city.
Suruchi Singh, legal counsel for Hyderabad citizens who filed a case against the state government, said, “The court stated that MoEF has to take an appropriate decision including publishing a revised draft notification on the state government’s proposals to remove the buffer zone for KBR Park or revise the ESZ from 3 to 7 metres.”
Citizens will be given 50 days to give their views on the proposals of the state government. After this, the Union ministry has to take a final decision, said Kaajal Maheshwari of Hyderabad Rising Forum, a people's collective opposing the SRDP. “Cutting and translocation of trees cannot be done until the MoEF gives its final view, after looking into all aspects,” she said.
Eco-sensitive zones are areas notified by the Centre to ensure a ‘buffer zone’around an ecologically sensitive zone like a national park, to ensure that the areas inside the zone are protected and no construction activity takes place around the zone.
Members of Hyderabad Rising stated that they would file objections with logical arguments once the Centre seeks views from the public on the state government’s proposals. It appealed to citizens of Hyderabad to come forward and support the fight.
