Green belts need to be protected

Green belts need to be protected
New Indian Express

BDA’s Comprehensive Development Plan proposes to reduce the green belt area from 728 sq km to 457 sq km. Environmentalists have opposed the idea on the grounds that the ailing green belt must not be battered any more. Some even say that this move will legalise the encroachments in the green belt and encourage further encroachment. There are several ecologically sensitive areas in the green belt which need to be protected. I was heading a committee instituted by the BDA when Lakshmi Venkatachalam was the Commissioner. We toured over 380 villages in and around the green belt and submitted a report stating that these areas need protection.

However, the BDA has slept over it and the ecology is suffering. The water bodies have become dumping areas for garbage, so that the water gets contaminated. Even while forming the CDP, the ecological sensitivity has not been kept in mind and they have proposed that the area of the green belt be reduced. This will put more pressure on the city with respect to traffic and other problems.

Several encroachments have taken place on the green belt. The government should show that no one can take the law into their hands, but this move will legalise the encroachments and encourage further encroachments.

A N Yellappa Reddy, Former Secretary Environment and Ecology