Save KBR Park campaign gaining momentum

Hyderabad: ‘Save KBR’ campaign taken up against the proposal of shrinking the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around Kasu Brahmananda Reddy (KBR) National Park is gaining momentum. The state government wanted to reduce the ESZ around the park, and the Ministry of Environment Forest (MoEF) approved the proposal and invited objections and opinions. 

The campaign aims to bring awareness among people about the importance of the park, and the dangers of shrinking the ESZ around the park, said Kajal Maheshwari, one of the volunteers who are spearheading the campaign. The park is the right of the people and last date to raise objections is December 27, she said. The state government wanted to reduce the ESZ to as low as 3 meters at some places around the park for its Strategic Road Development Plan (SRDP) to construct multi-layer flyover in order to reduce the traffic congestions. Currently, the ESZ is about 25 to 30 metres around the park, the government wanted to reduce it to 3 to 29.8 metres. 

“We are planning to take up another rally on Sunday. The six flyovers that the SRDP is planning to construct around the park are going to put fauna and flora of the park in danger. We have set up an online petition for people to sign and show their solidarity for the park,” Maheshwari said. Awareness is the key and raising objections is our legal right. The campaign is trying to do just that, she added. The GHMC has also got permission to cut off as many as 600 trees in the ESZ area for the SRDP project. According to Rajeev Mathew, a biodiversity specialist, the translocation of plants to other areas will not compensate for the damage done at the park.