Strategies recommended
 
We need to formulate certain strategies and take up specific measures to counter the problems that face us vis-a-vis urbanisation. Some short and long term plans on the same have been listed here. Obviously, we need to act on these recommendations early. Depending on the feedback, some of the strategies could be changed or recast subsequently when improvements are noticed in the next SOE report.

1.
 Groundwater use regulations need to be improved/tightened, notifying areas where no tapping can be permitted. A regulation on digging of borewells has to be brought about to streamline and deter unscrupulous tapping of groundwater resources. Groundwater resources need to be constantly monitored especially in the cities of Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Tirupathi.
2.
 A drive is needed to stop all encroachments within the Full Reservoir Level (FRL's) of lakes. All waste land should be recovered by vacating encroachments. Unobjectionable encroachers should however be compensated with facilities elsewhere. Catchment areas of Osmansagar and Himayatsagar need to be identified and demarcated for improvement and afforestation.
3.
 Water quality studies on the Musi and other lakes need to be commissioned. Needless to say, follow up action on the recommendations of such studies has to be ensured.
4.
 Musi clearing and beautification plan has to be taken up based on treatment of all water entering it. Encroachments have to be cleared in this river. Also clearing and deepening channels wherever it is narrow is recommended. No more Imliban type bus stands be allowed in any river bed in the state.
5.
 Maps of all lakes and kunta's using Global Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing need to be made public. Transparency has to be brought about and access to land records should be ensured for the public.
6.
 Alternative arrangements have to be made for washing of cattle and clothes debarring lakes being used for the purpose. Low-cost treatment of waste water has to be provided for before it enters the lakes.
7.
 Laying of sewerage system in unsewered areas of all municipalities has to be taken up on "user pays" basis. Interception and treatment of sewage water entering the Musi river has to be provided for. There is a concern voiced by an important segment that in the context of inadequate provision for sewerage the viable alternative is in promotion of Low Cost Sanitation (L.C.S.).
8.
 Sewage treatment plants need to be installed for treatment of full quantities of influents.
9.
 Industries, which after repeated notices from the APPCB, do not conform to effluent treatment upto the standard need to be closed. Continuous monitoring has to be taken up of all industrial effluents at major outfall confluence.
10.
 Heavy water cess has to be enforced on industry. Cess incentives should be given to units for recycling water.
11.
 Ring Roads with lawns and trees on verges, surbs dividers should be taken up. All lorry traffic should bypass the urban areas at the farthest possible points avoiding builtup areas.
12.
 Noise pollution studies should be taken up as well as measures initiated to abate it in areas where standards have exceeded the limits.
13.
 Handing over of all lakes, kuntas etc to the state forest department is recommended. Citizen's Committees need to be formed to bring reports of violation to the notice of Forest department for action under the Wild Life Act of 1972.
14.
 Planting of trees on foreshores of lakes needs to be encouraged. Picketing and fishing have to be prohibited except in notified parks and waterbeds.
15.
 Develop green index consulting National Remote Sensing Agency and the Forest Department.
16.
 Detailed studies of air pollution in industrial areas and individual industries should be taken up. Also standards should be clamped on them wherever necessary.
17.
 Introduction of more area based Citizens' Committees for management of solid waste would be of immense help. Segregation of wastes at household level needs to be given a thrust. This would also facilitate in setting up units to convert these wastes into organic manure.
18.
 Strict regulation of hazardous and bio-medical waste, separate, secure landfills with proper lining need to be identified. A common treatment disposal facility system has to be activated outside the city periphery to reduce bio-medical and hazardous wastes to a safer combination before further disposal in common secured landfills.
19.
 'Pedestrianisation' should be encouraged on the congested roads. Introduction of electric vehicles might also ease pollution in these areas.
20.
 Public transport has to be improved with more buses and dedicated bus paths on the roads. Early introduction of rapid transit railways, starting with networking of existing rail roads for suburban movements is strongly recommended.
21.
 Encouragement to cycle users by having lanes and separate streets would need to be in place. Sponsorships by industrial houses for promoting cycle usage could also be tried.
22.
 Floor Space Index (FSI) regulation in densely populated urban areas including Hyderabad and Secunderabad cantonment have to be strictly enforced. Multi-storeyed buildings without at least 35% of greenery, 10% of car park area and 15% of open playing ground for children should not be allowed at all.
23.
 Heritage sites have to be notified under relevant regulations. These could also include rocks and groves. Citizens' Committees could be formed to keep an eye on them.
24.
 Another strong recommendation is on setting up of an Urban Arts Commission to advise on all matters relating to urban arts and beautification of areas.
25.
 Regulation is necessary on erection of hoardings to avoid disfigurement of skyline or hiding of trees and rock formations.
26.
 This being the first SOE report, a better statement of the problem was not possible due to lack of proper database. Our firm recommendation, therefore, is that a similar SOE report should be compiled periodically especially in respect of data which is dynamic.
   

8.6 Additional Steps

The master plans should be designed keeping in mind the need to keep the towns clean and green. All community owned areas should be converted to large spaces and transactions on Government lands which convert them to residential or industrial areas should be stopped. A state of environment report for all major towns should be commissioned with the help of local institutions.




Source : 1 - Parts of this chapter and some tables excerpted from Urbanisation and Urban Development

in A.P. - A status paper by D. Ravindra Prasad, V. Ganeshwar, Regional Centre for Urban and Environment Studies, Osmania University, Hyderabad. 1996.

2. Urban slums - Health, Education and Development-

P. Prasad, Delta Publishing House, 1995.

 
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