Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Wednesday asked the Telangana government, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority to spell out their stand in providing public parks /green spaces in various urban areas of the state.
A division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice P. Naveen Rao was hearing a PIL by Mr K. Pratap Reddy, a resident of the city, seeking to declare the action of respondent authorities in failing to provide for adequate green spaces/park areas/recreational areas for the citizens of the state as a constitutional failure, violating citizens’ fundamental rights including the rights guaranteed under Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
Counsel for the petitioner informed the court that after the Nizam’s rule, no park had been developed in Hyderabad city and the existing parks were also shrinking either due to encroachments or selling of park lands by the government.
He urged the court to direct the authorities to identify and demarcate land and undertake development of public parks in various urban centres in the state and also direct them to fix a timeframe to develop the identified places.
Environment (Infographics)
Expressing surprise at not developing the parks, Justice Bhosale asked counsel representing the HMDA whether any areas had been earmarked in the Master Plan to provide for green space for the public.
While replying in the negative, counsel submitted that HMDA rules mandated that each layout had to provide green spaces. The Bench directed the respondents to place all the master plans before the court and posted the case to hearing after the summer vacation.
GHMC collects Rs 5.42 lakh from violators
On day two of “Fines Days” observed by the GHMC, corporation officials collected Rs 5.42 lakh as fines from 416 violators. Establishments us-ing plastic covers below 40 microns in the city were fined during raids. The ban on plastic carrybags below 40 micron thickness came into effect on July 1, 2011.
GHMC commissioner Mr B. Janardhan Reddy said, “GHMC will seek the help of the city police and utilise CCTV camera feeds at the control room at the police commissioner’s office. With this, GHMC will identify those littering public places and impose heavy penalties on them. GHMC also plans to re-move all vulnerable garbage points in the twin cities.”
The municipal body will regularly conduct special drives similar to the “Fine Days” and check the usage of plastic bags below 40 micr-ons. The commissioner said most of the nalas were being clogged due to plastic waste.
“We appeal to residents not to throw any waste into nalas,” he said. Awareness campaign on plastic waste, illegal banners, posters and hoardings will also be conducted. On Tuesday, the GHMC had collected Rs 1.04 lakh as fines from 108 violators. The municipal corporation had termed April 26 and 27 as “Fines Days”.
