KCR pushes for Green Secretariat

Hyderabad: The Telangana government is keen on ensuring a vast green cover around the new Secretariat so much so that nearly 20 acres of the total 25 acres are most likely to be used for setting up parks, landscaped gardens and water fountains, while the remaining 5 acres will be utilized for the construction of the integrated Secretariat complex.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao wants a Greener Secretariat with abundant lung space and having lots of trees to get a breath of fresh air in the existing land, in the heart of the city and abutting the world's largest manmade lake Hussain Sagar. Also, it is certain that the new Secretariat will be only one huge building, in a rectangular shape and with state-of-the-art facilities and amenities.

The government feels that the existing Secretariat, consisting of different building blocks constructed at some distance from each other, is like a concrete jungle. Instructions have been given to the architects to keep these points in mind while preparing different greener designs that will be submitted to the Chief Minister. According to sources, architects are on the job already and the CM is likely to approve the best one in the coming days.

While some sections are opposing the new Secretariat plan claiming that the existing buildings were built to last for 100-years, the reality is otherwise, according to the government, as no proper fire safety norms are followed, lack of enough meeting halls and video conference halls, work coming to a standstill in rains with employees not in a position to take files from one block to the other located at some distance, lack of cafeteria with good facilities and not to forget lack of proper parking facilities.

Sources stated that the buildings were constructed in a haphazard manner and do not adhere even to the National Building Norms and Green Buildings Code, senior officials pointed out. Another thing that is being highlighted is the fact that none of the buildings in the existing Secretariat are earthquake resistant. Geologists suggest that the new constructions should be built as per Zone 3 standards so that it can withstand any type of intensity below it. The new Secretariat plan will be designed in such a way that it will be an earthquake resistant one and adheres to the National Building Norms and Green Building Code.

Meanwhile, the government is understood to have decided to hold due deliberations with religious leaders from Hindus, Muslims and Christians regarding the existing places of worship (Nalla Pochamma Temple, Mosque and Church) located in the Secretariat.

Religious places

Officials are considering two proposals on the temple. One is to let the temple remain as it is and beautify the entire place to merge with the new plan. Another proposal is to remove it from the existing location and construct a new one as per Vaastu, as done during the construction of Pragathi Bhavan. With regard to the mosque, if the new Secretariat is built in the land in front of the mosque, there is no need to remove it. Coming to the church, it has to be relocated to another place. A final decision on the places of worship would, however, be made in consultation with the respective stakeholders, authorities said.