Urban Forest Parks In Cities Under Haritha Haram

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao wants all the forest blocks in and around the state's cities to be developed into Urban Forest Parks (UFP) under the Telanganaku Haritha Haram project.

The Urban Forest Parks are expected to not only provide a wholesome and healthy living environment, but also contribute to the growth of smart, clean, green, sustainable and healthy cities in the state.

According to forest department officials, the focus will be on developing all forest blocks in and around the capital city into Urban Forest Parks. Currently there are 193 forest blocks, with an area of 58,000 hectares, that fall within the HMDA and GHMC limits.

Initially, the forest blocks falling under the Outer Ring Road limits (ORR) will be developed, with the forest blocks falling within a distance of 5 km from the ORR to be developed later.

It was decided that the forest blocks falling within 10 km from the ORR, too, would be taken up for development into Urban Forest Parks.

So far, 16 forest blocks have been taken up for development into Urban Forest Parks, of which six have been opened to the public. 36 other forest blocks, with a combined area of 17,410 hectares between them, have just been taken up for development, too.

In order to develop a forest block into an Urban Forest Park, the forest department will have to take measures like providing complete protection through means of a boundary wall, a see-through wall, fencing or a peripheral trench; developing greenery inside the park through plantations, or other cultural operations under the Assisted Natural Regeneration program; developing inspection paths, walking trails, cycle trails and fire lines; creating a watch tower, a canopy walk, a deer park, an aviary etc; promoting adventurous sports activities; and creating public amenities including an open gym etc.

In a statement, the forest department said that there would be an entry fee for the developed parks, and that the revenue earned from the entry fees and other sources would be utilized for the maintenance and further development of the parks.

Adding that the parks were open for use by morning walkers, day-time visitors, school children and the student community, the department said that these parks would be pivotal in providing lung spaces for city dwellers, and could also double up as a great recreational facility over the weekends.

Besides that, these parks wouldn't just provide fresh oxygen to the inhabitants of the city but would also play a vital role in the preservation and conservation of local bio-diversity, help maintain the ecological balance, and aid percolation of rain water thereby helping in maintaining the underground water regime, it said.

Funds to the tune of Rs 17.42 crores have been spent so far in the development of these parks, with the state government providing the necessary resources under the Afforestation Scheme, officials said.