Andhra couple adopts Asian Elephant at Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: A couple, Sreehari and Srija, both software engineers from Andhra Pradesh, on Tuesday adopted an Asian Elephant at Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad for a period of one year.
Sreehari and Srija, who are software engineers working in Bengaluru and Hyderabad and residents of Rayadurgam, Ananthapur district, Andhra Pradesh, visited Nehru Zoological Park along with their parents and family members. They handed over a cheque of Rs. 25,000 to Dr. Sunil S. Hiremath, Director (FAC) & Curator of Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad, towards the adoption charges of an Asian Elephant for one month.
Dr. Sunil S. Hiremath, IFS, Director (FAC) & Curator of Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad, thanked Sreehari and Srija for adopting an Asian Elephant and expressed a deep sense of gratitude and appreciated their concern for the welfare of the valuable animals.
Later, Sreehari and Srija, accompanied by their parents and family members, visited all the animals’ enclosures and appreciated the upkeep of the animals. They said that the Animal Adoption Scheme is an excellent initiative for animal lovers and thanked the zoo management for providing them with the opportunity to become proud adopters of the largest animal on earth. They appealed all citizens to come forward and join hands with Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad, in the conservation of wild animals.
CM Revanth Reddy reorganizes disaster management for Greater Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has decided to assign critical responsibilities to the Disaster Management Department within Greater Hyderabad. He has directed officials to implement structural changes and redistribute responsibilities accordingly. In a review meeting at the Secretariat on Monday evening, the Chief Minister discussed the reorganization with officials from Municipal Administration, HMDA, and Musi Development.
Expansion of disaster management responsibilities
Recognizing the geographic expansion of Hyderabad, the Chief Minister ordered the Disaster Management Department to extend its jurisdiction to the Outer Ring Road. He suggested including GHMC, 27 surrounding municipalities and corporations, and 33 gram panchayats within its service area. The department will be renamed the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring Protection (HYDRA). The Chief Minister proposed appointing a DIG-level officer as the director and SP-level officers as additional directors. He also recommended special teams from GHMC, HMDA, the Water Board, city traffic, and other departments to join this new division.
The Chief Minister emphasized the need for the Disaster Management Department to offer continuous services to city residents, not just during floods or emergencies. HYDRA should actively address all issues faced by Hyderabad’s citizens, including preserving the city’s tanks and ponds, protecting government properties from encroachments, and managing hoardings and flex banners. Additionally, HYDRA will oversee water pipelines, electricity supply lines, drainage, flood management, and traffic control.
Focus on heritage and infrastructure projects
Chief Minister Reddy directed the acceleration of the Musi River Development Project, aiming to elevate Hyderabad’s international reputation. He stressed the importance of working towards the government’s goal of transforming this project into a landmark. He also ordered officials to take necessary actions to restore historical buildings and structures within the city. The GHMC presented a PowerPoint on various heritage sites, such as the City Library, Charminar Ayurvedic Hospital, and Nizamia Observatory etc. The Chief Minister encouraged exploring ways to develop these sites for tourism and integrating feasible ones into the Musi River Development Project.
The Chief Minister instructed Chief Secretary Shantikumar to draft a comprehensive reorganization plan, including staffing, duties, and budget allocations for HYDRA. He also emphasized identifying key areas where the Disaster Management Department can enhance its operations.
The meeting included Chief Secretary Shantikumar, Principal Secretary of Municipal Administration and Urban Development Danakishore, GHMC Commissioner Amrapali, GHMC Vigilance Disaster Management Commissioner A.V. Ranganath, and Hyderabad Water Board MD Ashok Reddy.
