Haritha Haram_2020

Greenscaping Hyderabad HMDA’s Lung Spaces

HYDERABAD METROPOLITAN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Swarna Jayanti Complex, Sanjeetva Reddy Nagar Road, Srinivasa Nagar, Ameerpet, Hyderabad - 500082, Telangana, India eMail : applicantsupport@hmda.gov.in, cfc@hmda.gov.in HMDA LRS HELP DESK: 27018115, 27018116, 27018117 Toll Free : 18004258838

EXPANDING GREEN COVER IN HMDA AREAS

An initiative by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (Urban Forestry)

From the Hon’ble Minister for MA&UD

Shri. K.T. RAMA RAO I am delighted to learn that the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (Urban Development) is releasing a coffee table book to showcase the journey and achievements of the Telangana Ku Haritha Haram drive through scenic visuals.

With the sixth phase of the Telangana Ku Haritha Haram initiative underway, the extensive efforts of the initiative launched by the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao celebrate five years of nurturing green cover in urban spaces, the results of which have been well-documented in this engaging edition by the Urban Development Wing of the HMDA. The initiative by the ministry has not only focused on spreading green cover across public parks, roadways, industries and HMDA establishments but also promotes citizens to develop a green thumb in residential spaces.

A collective vision, this large-scale plantation drive now holds a green reserve in the State that aims at restoring ecological balance and has developed 25 urban forest blocks in 16 locations. The Urban Forestry wing of the HMDA has put in commendable efforts to beautify the city and transform vacant spaces into sprawling lush green areas to be utilised as aesthetic, recreational areas despite operational setbacks with the onset of COVID-19 lockdown.

I am sure that the workforce behind the Green Garland for Telangana will sustain the rejuvenation of the State with greenery to help us attain 33% tree coverage area. The MAUD appreciates the exceptional work done by the HMDA (UD) towards building a green, sustainable state and looks forward to continuing our efforts to expand lung spaces as part of TKHH. My best wishes to the HMDA for a productive year ahead, and I hope this noble initiative encourages a wave of positive change.

From Metropolitan Commissioner

Shri. ARVIND KUMAR, IAS It gives me immense pleasure to bring out the efforts of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority with this coffee table book titled ‘Telangana Ku Haritha Haram at HMDA’. This year, 2020, marks the completion of five glorious years of TKHH, the brainchild of the Chief Minister of Telangana, Shri Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao for the expansion of tree cover in Telangana.

Launched in 2015, TKHH has implemented a ‘down to earth’ approach to building green cover in underutilised areas of the state, and the HMDA (Urban Forestry wing) has curated multiple ornamental, indigenous and medicinal plants for propagation in the HMDA areas. In five years, the plantation programme has been implemented not only in areas outside dense forest areas, but also in 25 Urban Forest Blocks which are being developed by the HMDA in 16 locations. Urban spaces such as avenue plantations, state highways, institutional premises, parks and lake areas have been greened by the efforts of the HMDA to contribute to the National Forest Policy’s target of 33% forest cover in Telangana.

I hope that this book will help one understand the impact of planned forestry in urban spaces and the enhancement of ecological diversity in the state. This year, the TKHH programme under the HMDA is proposing to develop urban lung spaces in the form of tree parks and mini-forests using the widely successful Yadadri model (Miyawaki Plantation Method).

We are also glad to announce that the process of nurturing lakhs of saplings for plantation purposes has created new employment opportunities in the state and private-owned nurseries. As phase six commences, I believe the green trail continues to make Telangana as one of the model states of the country. Sincerely appreciate the authorities, workers and citizens whose efforts have made TKHH a grand success and wish the HMDA the best in their ongoing plans.

Table of CONTENTS

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08 Roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 The Road so Far . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Achievements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Nurseries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Central Median . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Railway Corridor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Main Carriage Way (MCW) . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Road Rotaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Avenue Plantation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Industrial Plantation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Institutional Plantation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Homestead Plantation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Block Plantations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Distribution of Seedlings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Garland of Greenery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Parks & Tree parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Lake projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Plantation Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Miyawaki Plantations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

INTRODUCTION Established in the year 1986, the Urban Forestry Wing of the HMDA (erstwhile HUDA) implements the expansion of green cover in the State of Telangana by applying various plantation models and best practices to restore ecological balance in the State. Instrumental in the maintenance and development of lung spaces in and around Hyderabad, the Urban Forestry wing functions to develop greenery in areas under HMDA jurisdiction to reduce air, noise, and water pollution.

A Government of Telangana initiative that puts sustainability in the spotlight, Telangana Ku Haritha Haram (TKHH) adapts urban plantation at the community level to aid aesthetics, environment, and citizen health. Large-scale plantation drives such as TKHH not only addresses concerns of sustainability, eco-conservation, and reforestation against the backdrop of developing infrastructure in the city, but they also retain environmental consciousness. Unproductive lands have been turned into lush lung spaces, and the establishment of nursery units to aid plantation drives has generated employment opportunities for women groups at the community levels.

From the year 2015, the Urban Forestry wing of HMDA has planted over 117.93 lakh, and an additional 47.30 lakh trees have been planted in the HMDA layouts. Besides this, the HMDA has also distributed 325 lakh seedlings to various organisations as part of TKHH. The HMDA has also created smart gardens and parks in several urban pockets to offset carbon emissions in the city.

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ROOTS

Efforts by the TKHH not only contribute to environmental conservation across the state but also effectively counter global issues like climate change, regulation of toxicity in the air, boost soil quality, and also replenish groundwater levels, which are all key contributors to a healthy ecosystem and sound citizen health. They also curb detrimental greenhouse emissions and promote forest cover, thus conserving human and animal habitats.

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THE ROAD SO FAR Initiated by the Chief Minister of Telangana Shri Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao on July 3, 2015, Telangana Ku Haritha Haram is one of the flagship initiatives of the HMDA to renew green cover in the city.

The effort implements various plantation methods such as avenue, block, tank foreshore, homestead, agro, and barren hill reforestation to maintain ecological balance across urban areas of the metropolis.

As the country’s National Forest Policy advocates for geographical regions to maintain a modest 33% green cover to sustain all life forms, TKHH envisions to increase forest cover from 23% to the prescribed figure in the HMDA region. TKHH applies proven, innovative plantation methods that are developed by foresters to catalyse the growth of trees, shrubs, tall plants, and hedges manifold. These methods also enrich aquifers, reviving groundwater levels, and combat significant consequences of climate change.

Between 2014 and 2020, the initiative has achieved plantations of 473.14 lakh and has grown 1405.92 seedlings in their nursery units (until February 2020).

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Achievements 1.

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Development and refurbishment of greenery along the 8-lane Nehru Outer Ring Road (ORR Expressway) Development of 25 urban Forest blocks and 16 clusters plantations in HMDA Tree Plantation in Defense areas (130 Ha plantation at RCI Centre, Dundigal) Tree plantations in HMDA and other vacant, 25 Ha in Rajendra Nagar Agriculture University, 30 Ha JNTU. Tree Parks in interchanges of roadways such as ORR, Shamshabad, Shamirpet, and Peddaamberpet Development of Greenery in municipalities/other municipal areas and Nagar panchayats within HMDA jurisdiction Development of colony/tree parks in HMDA jurisdiction Green cover extension in industrial areas Avenue Plantation Programmes on National Highways, Vijayawada Highway 30 km & Rajiv Rahadari 24 km Development of greenery along Musi riverfront Uppal, Bhagayat 3km Development of Greenery at Lakes under HMDA, Neknampur and others Environmental initiatives in the BPP (Buddha Purnima Project) area Development of greenery in HMDA Layout through developers and industrial areas Distribution of indigenous seedlings and plants to villages, Panchayats, Municipalities in HMDA areas Development and maintenance of nurseries 13

NURSERIES

Initiated with a mission to sustain the plantation drives by the Urban Forestry wing, the HMDA has established 32 central nurseries and 11 temporary nurseries to raise seedlings in a well-planned manner. The HMDA had raised 1.20 crore saplings in 20142015, utilising 35 lakhs of the stock later in the year.

The following year, the nurseries of HMDA nurtured three crore seedlings, including 85 lakh seedlings leftover for plantation. In 2016-2017, Urban Forestry, HMDA, utilized the previous year’s stock of 174 lakh saplings for planting at various locations. Also, in the same year, the establishment commenced the distribution of seedlings to the public and other institutions/organizations in the city.

Presently, over 150 varieties of tree species, perennial herbs, and shrubs, climbers, aromatic and medicinal plants are being nurtured in the HMDA-run nurseries to realise the objectives for TKHH. The tending and caring for the saplings at the nurseries are done by skilled women groups who are employed at the community levels. Together, they raise saplings for plantation drives such as - Avenue Plantation, Institutional Plantation, Industrial Plantation, and Homestead Plantation -to serve the greening programme. For the 2020 planting season, HMDA has been readying 275 lakh seedlings and 20 lakh tall plants for avenue plantations.

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CENTRAL MEDIAN

About an 85 km stretch of the ORR has been beautified with the placement of Central Medians. Main Carriage Way (MCW) shrubs and avenues on the Central Median began early in 2016. The Central Median has a tropical plant Mimusops elengi in the centre, distanced at 3 m with two flowering, Nerium, Bougainvillea shrubs in between two topiary plants. Both sides of the Central Median have 18-20 hedge plants in every square metre of area. Currently, the section has a string of 20 lakh saplings planted of various shrubs, hedge plants like Pogada, Nerium, Golden Duranta, Pedilanthus, Inerme, Acalypha (red and green), Bougainvillea and Leucophyllum among others.

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RAILWAY CORRIDOR

The railway corridor is the strip of land which is about 20-25 meters wide, between the Inner Service Road and Main Carriage Way of the ORR. Multiple rows of Avenue plants were planted along the Railway Corridor to tend to and address the requirements to beautify and benefit the area. These empty lands now have dense covers of all four varieties of Fig available in Telangana — Medi (Ficus glomerata), Juvvi (Ficus racemosa), Banyan and Peepal, Yeru Maddi (Terminalia arjuna), Usiri, Neem, Gulmohar, Bignonia, Indian Rosewood (Sissoo), China Badam, Tropical Almond (Terminalia), Mahua, Spathodia, Tabebuia argentea, Holoptelea, and Simarouba trees. Some species, as their silvicultural characteristics attain crowns early, achieve a dense cover in a matter of months whereas other species may take at least a couple of years to attain crowns.

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MAIN CARRIAGE WAY (MCW)

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Along the Main Carriage Way (MCW) of the ORR, single-row avenue plants were raised 3 metres apart in a thematic way. Flowering species of similar hues were chosen and planted over a stretch of 10 km on both sides of the MCW shoulders. Situated behind crash guards, the planted species include Bauhinia, Golden shower tree (Cassia fistula), Trumpet tree (Tabebuia), African tuliptree (Spathodia), Bignonia and Jacaranda plants. Adjacent to the MCW Avenue Plantation row, shrubbery comprising a row of flowering species were planted a meter apart on either side of the Main Carriage Way. The species used are Gaudi Chaudi (Tecoma guadichoudi) and Peacock Flower (Caesalpinia pulcherrima).

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ROAD ROTARIES The rotary intersection of roads is also called as traffic rotary. It is an enlarged intersection of roads where vehicles change lanes or direction without stopping. All vehicles coming from different roads move in a single direction around the central island and diverge into the required exit.

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AVENUE PLANTATION

Landscaping along roadsides, highways, and pathways with plantations on either side is known as avenue plantation. Commonly implemented to serve shade and offer aesthetic relief with flowers, Avenue Plantation is also considered for controlling soil erosion, climate stabilization and heat absorption. They also trap particulate matter in the air, thus reducing air and noise pollution levels. Planted over a length of 200 km along the National and State Highways around Hyderabad, the plantation drive has also covered significant roads, including some industrial areas. Each one of the 7 interchanges on ORR have 2 rotaries formed with colourful hedge and shrub plantations.

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INDUSTRIAL PLANTATION

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Roads connecting key industrial sites in the city have been greened under the Telangana Ku Haritha Haram project. Sapling species for this initiative were nurtured and planted across industries such as Ordinance Factory (30 Ha), RCI, Defence Road (100 Ha), were afforested and brought under effective green cover by planting seedlings. These underutilized areas have been developed by the Urban Forestry department to improve the quality of air around these industrial spaces.

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INSTITUTIONAL PLANTATION

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Institutional wastelands such as Osmania University, Rajendra Nagar Agriculture University (25 Ha) and JNTUH (5 Ha) have been engaged for Institutional section of the plantation drive. Indigenous plant species like Neem (Azadirachta indica), Raavi (Ficus religiosa), Marri (Ficus benghalensis), Juvvi (Ficus racemosa), Neredu (Syzygium cumini), Usiri (Phyllanthus emblica), Bamboo (Bambusoideae), Konda Chinta (Peltophorum pterocarpum), Tabebuia, Palm Trees (Arecaceae), Indian Rosewood (Sissoo) were planted to deflect green cover loss during extreme climate events.

DEVELOPMENT OF GREENERY ALONG MUSI RIVERFRONT UPPAL, BHAGAYAT 3KM

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HOMESTEAD PLANTATION

The nurseries of TKHH also raise saplings for Homestead Plantation. Focused on decentralized green pockets, this initiative allows civilians to collect saplings and plant them across residences, workspaces, including shared housing spaces like colonies. Chosen primarily to serve household needs, these plant species are medicinal, aromatic, fruit-bearing trees, or leafy greens and are to be planted and maintained by citizens. Plant species distributed include Neredu, Seethaphal, Usiri, Papaya, Guava, Neem, Maredu, Soapnut, Badam, Munaga, and other common medicinal plants.

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BLOCK PLANTATIONS

Block plantations are saplings rooted in compact blocks in sizes spanning over 0.1Ha lying outside recorded forests. About 130 Ha of block plantations at various locations have been raised during the 2016 season by the HMDA for the Telangana Ku Haritha Haram initiative. With a survival percentage of around 90%, 2.2 lakh plants beautify the blocks and are well established between the 2016-2020 plantation period. Implemented across panchayats, wastelands and community spaces, these blocks meet fodder 32

needs for settlements in nearby areas. The plantation includes fast-growing sub-tropical and tropical tree species like Raavi(Ficus Religiosa), Marri (Ficus Benghalensis), Neem (Azadirachta Indica) Albizia, Acacia, Sissoo, Neredu, Sundra, Chinduga, Subabool (River Tamarind), and Gliricidia. Planting will be performed by the concerned departments. After planting the plantations will be handed over to the Gram Panchayat for maintenance.

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DISTRIBUTION OF SEEDLINGS

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Alongside the plantation drives, Telangana Ku Haritha Haram has also initiated distribution of seedlings and plants to NGOs, Schools, Colleges, Welfare Associations, Gram Panchayats, Municipalities, Farmers, Nagar Panchayats and layouts among other establishments. Having supplied about 75 lakh seedlings to Governmental organisations such as the Forest Department and the GMHC alone, this initiative supports the sustainability efforts done by the departments.

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GARLAND OF GREENERY Afforestation Glory ORR

As part of the Telangana Ku Haritha Haram initiative, the HMDA has landscaped the 158 km stretch of the state-owned eight-lane expressway that encircles the city of Hyderabad, Nehru Outer Ring Road (ORR). Envisioned by HMDA, the initiative aims for a lush, aesthetic path to achieve perennial greenery.

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Aptly named “Garland of Greenery,” the massive plantation drive has rooted 1.52 lakh seedlings of ornamental plants along the ORR. With multiple rows of Avenue plantations raised on its corridors, the expressway holds shade bearing trees and topiaries for utilitarian and aesthetic purposes.

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Additionally, along the Main Carriage Way (MCW) and 19 interchanges, 70,691 shrubbery and ornamental plants have been raised between the 2013-2019 plantation period. Besides this, TKHH covered avenue plantations along both the sides of service roads of ORR, including hillocks and waterlogged areas and embankment zones with recurrent soil erosion. As part of this initiative, land parcels adjoining the regions under HMDA control that have been unutilized, encroached, or being used as unauthorized parking spaces have been identified and greened.

In the year 2018 itself, about 2,33,291 tall plants were planted in the ORR, including Railway Corridors, Service Roads, Rotaries, and Interchange areas. The 158 km stretch has a mix of shade-bearing trees, topiary plants, shrubs, and hedges total at 35.11 lakhs.

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PARKS & TREE PARKS

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Instrumental in the development of recreational, urban lung spaces across the city, the Urban Forestry wing had given a green makeover to the parks that lie within the HMDA, GHMC limits of Hyderabad. Having developed four major memorial parks – KBR National Park, Sanjeevaiah Park, NTR Garden Park and Lumbini Park – the Urban Forestry wing has also reformed 12 colony parks. Also noteworthy are TKHH efforts to improve nine lake parks such as Peddamma Cheruvu, Durgam Cheruvu and the Mir Alam Tank. Additionally, the Urban Forestry Wing has spread its Telangana Ku Haritha Haram efforts to prominent temple parks that are in regions outside HMDA limits. These include the Gnana Saraswathi Park at Basara; Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple Park, Keesara; and Venkateswara Swamy Temple Park at Jillelaguda.

Some of the ongoing works of the HMDA are the development of parks, play areas, and tree grooves in the open spaces of residential colonies, aiming to protect urban settlements efficiently from environmental pollution and curb deterioration of green spaces with adequate maintenance in the metropolis. While small open areas are developed into residential colony parks, medium-sized spaces are converted into play parks for youth and children. The HMDA utilizes the larger spaces by transforming them into theme parks for recreational purposes. Presently, the Urban Forestry Wing oversees developmental operations in 11 lake and STP parks, 18 colony parks, 4 memorial parks and 18 ornamental gardens in medians and rotaries, totalling to 51 parks across the state.

Shanthi Vanam, Medipally.

Sanjeevani Vanam, Gurram Guda

Uppal Bhagayath

Prashanthi Vanam, Dulapally.

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LAKE PROJECTS A collective effort of the HMDA with collaborations from local NGOs, Welfare associations, corporates, and individuals, the Lake projects of TKHH began in the 2016 planting season. With the beautification, plantation, and maintenance of each lake being adopted by various agencies across the state, the HMDA was able to utilize 1.85 lakh saplings for the development of greenery in the city in four years.

The lake beautification initiative has covered water bodies such as the Necknapur lake, Ibrahim Cheruvu, Nagaram lake, Timmaipally lake, Batacheruvu, Chintalkunta, Jafferguda Cheruvu, and Jalpally Kunta.

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PLANTATION DRIVES

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Around 15,000 native varieties of trees have been planted in the vicinity such as Arjuna, Etha, Kanuga, Neredu, Bauhinia, and Peltophorum. While the HMDA had provided financial assistance and required seedlings for pitting and planting, the adopted agencies implemented the plantation drives with active participation from school children and the local populace. The post-plantation activities like maintenance, fencing, and tending will be taken up by the adopters themselves.

MIYAWAKI PLANTATIONS To achieve dense forest cover in a short span, the government of Telangana has implemented the Miyawaki Plantation method, developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. The technique requires leaves very little gap between the saplings, allowing them to grow at a pace 10 times faster than natural forests, creating forest cover within 20-30 years, unlike conventional methods that take up to 300 years. Using indigenous plants, TKHH has revolutionised the concept of urban afforestation by turning backyards into mini-forests to compensate for losses in green cover for agricultural and developmental reasons.

Traditionally developed to protect green cover in low-lying areas from natural calamities, the method needs native trees of the region to be identified and divided into four layers namely shrub, sub-tree, tree, and canopy. The quality of soil is then analyzed for water retention capacity and nutrients, and are treated to meet requirements. A mound is built with the soil and the seeds are planted at a very high density — three to five saplings per square meter — on a ground covered with a thick layer of mulch. Such fast-growing plantations can be used for wood lots, recreational uses like bird watching, bushwalking, and wildflower appreciation. The high-density planting method has been highly successful as observed in Yadadri district, resulting in a thick forest cover within a year of plantation. These micro-forests are also self-sustainable, improve biodiversity and conserve soil and water in the area.

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HYDERABAD METROPOLITAN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Swarna Jayanti Complex, Sanjeetva Reddy Nagar Rd, Srinivasa Nagar, Ameerpet, Hyderabad - 500082, Telangana, India eMail : applicantsupport@hmda.gov.in, cfc@hmda.gov.in | HMDA LRS HELP DESK: 27018115, 27018116, 27018117 Toll Free : 18004258838