Round-Table on state of Hyderabad city held

Hyderabad: India Infrastructure Dialogue round table on the state of Hyderabad city was held by foundation for Futuristic Cities on Wednesday. The main objective of the roundtable was to get a snapshot of Infrastructure status of the city. It was felt that these dialogues between stakeholders give an opportunity for a city to revisit city priorities, investment decisions, infrastructure and reform areas.

President of Futuristic Cities Karuna Gopal said that the paradox of Hyderabad is that while it enjoys a brand as an investment destination it has often been discussed in the context of inequity & climate vulnerability. She said that  though the city is brandished in the international market place as an investment destination to attract investments, the state of core infrastructure is anything but world class.
  
Karuna added that the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is one of the richest corporations in the country but some of the city priorities in which Hyderabad lacks include economic development, environmental protection and equity.

A mental health expert Dr Purnima Nagaraja said that the suicide rate in students has been increasing day by day especially in the age group of 15-19 years and the stress level is very high and there are many mental health issues among women which must be attended. She also added that mental health has to be incorporated in schools for the benefit of children. 
  
Narasimha Reddy, Executive Director of Chetana society said that there is a big gap between need and provision which is to be filled but the gap is getting bigger every day. He said that cost of infrastructure, revenue models is the need of the hour.
Environmental engineer on Air Quality Expert Keshav Reddy said that though the pollution levels are high PCB say we are healthy and fine, but we are at level 7 and the only solution is that we should have an estimate the pollution.

BJP MLA K Laxman said that one of the major incidents of Bholakpur water contamination has to be immediately addressed. He said that the effluents left in Hussain Sagar has been diverted and because of which there are a lot of health problems.

GHMC commissioner B Janardhan Reddy said that with the help of this roundtable it is a good learning and he agreed with the complaints made by the experts. He also added that the GHMC is unable to find solution for dumping yards in the city.