HYDERABAD: Did the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) overstep a mile or two in hard selling its prestigious Golden Mile project at Kokapet?

Environmentalists assert that the urban development regulator is promoting the project in clear violation of the Supreme Court judgment upholding Government Order 111 of March 8, 1996, banning industrial and such massive construction activity within a 10-km radius of Osmansagar and Himayatsagar.

Notwithstanding the HUDA's contention that the strategically located Kokapet does not figure in the list of 84 villages enumerated in the Government Order, they point out that the list was only indicative and not exhaustive and the guiding principle should be 10-km radius of Full Tank Level of the two reservoirs that continue to be drinking water sources for the city. As part of the project, the HUDA is putting to auction "business-class plots" spread over 100 acres at Kokapet on July 20. The HUDA has been marketing it as a futuristic destination, just 3 km away from Microsoft and ISB, "ideally suited" for star hotels, healthcare units, financial institutions, Information Technology companies, corporate offices and high-rise apartments. If concentration of such massive multi-storeyed structures in an exclusive enclave does not cause pollution what else would, ask the environmentalists.

`Business-class plots'

They are not prepared to buy the HUDA's argument that the project could not be compared to industrial activity and point to the provisions of the Environment Protection Act encompassing not merely industries but operations and processes also. As for relaxations, they quoted the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court, in the Surana Oil Mills case, that upheld the GO. "Having laid down the policy prohibiting location of industries within 10-km radius the State should not have granted exemption (from the GO) either to the respondent industry (oil mill planned to be set up by Suranas) or to any other industry".

The apex court had further observed that "the Government could not pass such exemption orders having dangerous potential unmindful of the fate of lakhs of citizens of twin cities to whom drinking water is supplied from these reservoirs". Environmentalists cited other reports prepared by the Environment Protection Training and Research Institute and the National Geophysical Research Institute on "Evaluation of permissible developmental activities in the catchment areas of the two reservoirs". The reports warned against relaxation of the GO saying it could lead to deterioration in water quality.

The EPTRI has recommended strict implementation of the restriction in the Floor Space Index to 1: 0.5 as provided in the GO to ensure that 90 per cent of the catchment area remains under agriculture as is the practice now for protecting the lakes. In fact, the restriction should be extended to the entire area within the watersheds in the respective Master Plans to prevent construction of large and high-rise complexes in the area.

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