TS Govt to promote forest blocks around ORR

Hyderabad : Municipal Administration & Urban Development Minister K. Tarakarama Rao has directed the officials to create forest blocks around the Outer Ring Road of Hyderabad.

The minister, along with Chief Secretary S.K. Joshi, held a meeting with the senior officials at the Secretariat on Tuesday to discuss the issue. He said there were 194 Forest Blocks and 58,329 acres of forests in the limits of Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA). He said in order to protect the forest cover and environment, the State Government would create Forest Blocks. He said all departments would coordinate effectively to create more urban lung space. 

KTR said that the government also plans to promote Hyderabad as the destination for Wellness Tourism, Medical Tourism and Eco-Tourism. Therefore, he said that all city parks should be developed further. He said that the Musi River Front would be developed like KBR Park. 

Chief Secretary (Forests) Rajat Kumar informed that there 13 Forest Blocks spread across 1360 Hectares were being promoted in the GHMC limits. He said three blocks were nearing completion and eight more blocks would be taken up soon. 

GHMC Commissioner Dr. Janardhan Reddy, Tourism Secretary B. Venkatesham, HMDA Commissioner Chiranjeevulu and other senior officials were also present in the meeting.