-
to be
proactive and constructive
-
to
mobilize public opinion
-
to speak
in one voice on major issues where there is lack of
transparency or neglect of environmental considerations
in decision making
The main
focus of the Forum will be advocacy for sustainable
development by highlighting the ecological and economic
impacts of environmental problems likely to be created by
the developmental activities undertaken without proper
appraisal and assessment. Otherwise, there is every
danger of passing on the environmental problems to others,
to elsewhere and to the future generations in the name of
rapid development.
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Release
of Annual Number by Mr. T. Chatterjee. From L to R..
Mr. Vedakumar. M., Mr. T. Chatterjee, Mr. R.
Rajamani and Capt. J. Rama Rao |
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The
Representatives of various N.G.Os. |
The
activities of the Forum are divided into ten working
groups with each group headed by a convenor. They are:
-
Urban
development, slums and other related matters
-
Heritage, culture, etc
-
Rock
Formation & Ecology
-
Urban
Parks
-
Urban
lakes & water bodies
-
Urban
transport, Noise & Auto pollution
-
Industrial pollution, etc
-
Solid
waste management
-
Forests
-
Birds &
wildlife
The
objectives of the forum are achieved through:
1.
Public awareness campaign though TV/Radio
talks, writing articles in the news papers, round table
conferences, handouts, children programmes, celebration of
World Environment Day on June 5, World Earth Day on April
22, Water Resources Day on 15 April, World Water Day on 22
March, etc.
2.
Forum members are members of different
committees formulated by the government related to the
subjects of above presented groups
Established a website:
www.hyderabadgreens.org
A brief review of the
activities of the Forum in the last four years are given
below:
Activities of 2000-01:
The Forum took up with the State government and
concerned agencies, the various issues that may have an
adverse impact on environment and quality of life. The
Forum gave memoranda to the Chief Minister of Andhra
Pradesh on the Hussain Sagar Lake on avoiding taking up
mega tourism projects, which harm the environment.
Representation was also made about the Musi River with a
request to scrap the Nandanavanam Project and instead
prepare a holistic plan to improve water availability and
develop the river environs in such a manner as not to
affect the environment and livelihood of people. The
Forum also objected to the proposed national stadium in
Gymkhana grounds. Some of the issues, to which the
authorities were responsive, were resolved thus avoiding
likely ecological damage. But in respect to others, to
which the government was not sensitive with regard to
their impending ecological disaster, the Forum was left
with no alternative but to seek judicial intervention. An
example was the case (PIL) filed in regard to Hussain
Sagar tourism and other projects on which the AP High
Court issued orders in June 2001, wherein it was stated
that permanent structures should not be built in the
vicinity (catchment area) of water bodies. All other
activities should be taken up only after the APPCB
certifies that it would “result only in sustainable
development which would not create any ecological
imbalance” and “would not contribute to further
environmental degradation”. The Forum also took up: (i)
pollution problems related with the immersion of thousands
of Ganesh idols in Hussain Sagar Lake; (ii) Awareness
programme on Noise Pollution in cooperation with APPCB;
(iii) Campaign against plastic carry bags & automobile
pollution; (iv) suggestions/comments on draft Master Plan
2020 of HUDA; etc. The website of the Forum
www.hyderabadgreens.org was launched on 2 October
2000 by Dr. C. Rangarajan, H.E. the Governor of AP. An
annual number was brought out to commemorate the
completion of one year of the Forum in the service of the
society especially in creating awareness on environmental
issues.
Activities of 2001-02: As a
follow up, on completion of two years of service, the
annual number 2001-2002 was brought out. Forum’s
relentless effort to save Hussain Sagar for the progeny
has begun to bear fruit. (i) The Government has realized
the problem of pollution being created by immersion of
thousands of Ganesh idols in Hussain Sagar. The Chief
Minister has openly appealed to the public to immerse the
idols in nearby lakes & ponds instead of bringing to
Hussain Sagar Lake. The APPCB also issued an appeal
through papers requesting the idol makers not to use toxic
chemical paints, to go back to the traditional clay idols
instead of Plaster of Paris idols and to reduce the size
of the idols. This drive has created awareness among the
public; (ii) However, Forum was not successful in
protecting the Hussain Sagar Lake from government’s
onslaught on the name of mega tourism projects. This
needs pursued more vigorously through PILs. Forum filed a
PIL contending that the government cannot convert the
water body near Hussain Sagar into Commercial Purpose
resort. But the Honourable High Court dismissed the
petition, saying “that a Court’s role is restricted to
examine whether the government had taken into account all
relevant aspects” “has neither ignored nor overlooked any
material considerations nor has been affected by
extraneous reasons”. It said that courts do not have
expertise in large areas of government activity and it was
for the government to strike a balance between development
and environment based upon expert opinion, etc. The
Honourable Court did not call for expert opinion before
passing the judgment, as has been done in many similar
cases elsewhere, but left the matter to the government;
(iii) Forum’s appeals to reduce noise pollution in public
places and during religious festivals have also received
favourable response. Forum’s efforts to involve hundreds
of school children educating them about the need to reduce
noise pollution and the government’s directive to restrict
the crackers to certain hours has seen a discernable
change in the right direction; (iv) Forum’s drive to
eliminate plastic carry bags has resulted in the
Government passing an order prohibiting the manufacture,
sale & usage of plastic carry bags of less than 20
microns.
Activities of 2002-2004:
The activities initiated earlier were
pursued further and under this during this period Forum
took up several PILs to protect Hussain Sagar Lake; two
drinking water sources, namely Himayat Sagar & Osman Sagar;
and protecting Heritage structures -- the details are
given elsewhere in the publication. Forum has vigorously
pursued the auto pollution problem in the capital city but
Forum was not successful in getting the proposals
implemented in true spirit. This aspect must be given
priority in the coming year. In the case of Industrial
pollution, Forum is representing in the CFE committee of
APPCB. The Musi Pollution issue, the Hon’ble High Court
appointed a Committee headed by a retired judge and the
committee submitted its report. After evaluating the
report, Forum will take up the issue on priority basis in
the coming year. The Forum has submitted its
suggestions/comments on HUDA & HADA draft master plan.
Though, initially the momentum was fast on the use of
plastic bags & noise pollution but this has gone into
dustbin and needs to re-vitalization. The coming year the
Forum will approach the Ganesh celebration committees with
a proposal to dispense with huge structures and in its
place the money can be donated to a good cause. Forum has
taken active role in the Heritage related activities
