Kapra Lake revival group to host marathon cleanup at Kapra Lake
KAPRA: Kapra Lake Revival Group (KLRG) will conduct a ‘Marathon Cleanup’ on May 25 and 26 at Kapra Lake, located in Kapra village near Sainikpuri in the North-East part of Greater Hyderabad. The marathon cleanup will commence at 4 p.m. on May 25 and conclude at 10 p.m. on May 26, 2024.
The primary aim of the marathon cleanup is to prepare the lakebed for rainwater harvesting and ensure it remains clean and free of plastic. The group has already organised more that five such clean-up activities over the last 30-40 days alone.
Kapra Lake Revival Group has collaborated with the following organisations: A Waste Project, Bio Reform, Hyderabad Cycling Revolution, Happy Hyderabad, Relief Riders, Fenko MaTt, Bhavan’s NCC and NSS cadets, and Sreenidhi College of Science and Technology NSS volunteers.
Medha Kohli, member and spokesperson from KPRG, explained that they are a collection of environmentally-conscious residents who are concerned about the city’s apathy towards the environment.
“Swachh Bharat seems to have remained merely a slogan, not being implemented in practice. People find it easy to throw their household garbage on the streets. It is shocking to see garbage dumping on streets becoming common and normalised. However, it is heartening to have many citizens supporting our cleanup activities,” said Medha.
Degradable garbage bags
The cleanup organisers will also provide Degradable garbage bags made from corn waste and sponsored by Bio Reform, added Medha.
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“Cleanups and shramdaan at Kapra Lake have been happening for over three years now, initially on a small scale. Especially in the last year, cleanups and anti-littering rallies have been occurring regularly not only in the lake area but also in and around our colonies of Sainikpuri, Vayupuri/Defence Colony, surrounding areas, and even Moula Ali hill. Over the last 30-40 days alone, we have organised more than five such cleanup activities. This was entirely a citizen-driven initiative, but we received support as we started reaching out. TCS is also joining us to support us under HOPE – Hours of purpose by employees for this marathon clean-up, ” elaborated Medha Kohli.
Kapra Lake Revival Group will also provide eco-friendly bags, gloves, and food for the participants. Interested individuals in the marathon cleanup can participate by registering through this Registration Link.
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.
