clean lakes and a rich wealth of wildlife to a jungle of concrete

HYDERABAD: Lush green patches, clean lakes and a rich wealth of wildlife. That's what described the Banjara Hills-Jubilee Hills belt of Hyderabad - once a much sought-after holiday destination - until urbanization knocked on its doors in the early 1990s. Now, this upmarket pocket is nothing but a jungle of concrete sans any lung space or environmental appeal. And it's not just 'modernization' but also the indifference of local administrators that is responsible for the slow yet steady death of this 'green belt'.

The two prominent valleys in Banjara Hills, which were declared as 'heritage precincts' owing to their unique geographical character, now house plush bungalows and commercial spaces. Moreover, these structures have sprung up on the conservation zones without required permissions.

One of the precincts (No. 13) begins from KBR national park and leads up to the Banjara Lake, covering Road No 13 and 14. The other zone (No. 14) encompasses the entire stretch from KBR Park to Road No.1, Banjara Hills.

According to the rulebook, any construction activity within these precincts needs prior approval from members of the heritage conservation committee (HCC) of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority. Interestingly, even three months after the old HCC completed its term, a new committee is yet to be formed, which leaves no one to inspect any new unauthorized constructions.

Also, there are narrow conservation zones within these areas where no construction can be carried out as these are natural pathways for rain water to flow into the lakes. Unfortunately, this norm has been grossly violated over the years. "Thanks to encroachments and illegal constructions, the valley has almost disappeared and so has a water body in Banjara Hills," said Sajjad Shahid, a city historian.

"This area was known for its spectacular flora and fauna and unique rock formations. But the influx of human habitation has disturbed the entire eco-system. Sadly, some of these settlements are politically motivated and supported by leaders," he added.

Old-timers expressed special concern over the KBR national park which is within the area earmarked as heritage precinct. "Nowhere in the country will you see people and vehicles being allowed inside a national park," rued R Rajamani, retired IAS officer and former chairman of HCC. "At one point, the park was renowned for its unique vegetation and was responsible for recharging lakes downhill as it sits on the catchment of a lake. Today, the park has become a den of various unscrupulous activities. This amounts to not just polluting but also disrespecting the park," he added.

Another example of a dying heritage precinct is in the backyard of the IT hub in Madhapur. The Durgam Cheruvu and its surrounding area measuring up to 100 acres is listed as heritage precinct No. 15. But it now sports towering offices, IT parks and high-end residential projects. That no permissions were taken from the HCC for these modern buildings is anybody's guess.

"The rock formations on the west of Durgam Cheruvu have all gone, thanks to these structures," said M Veda Kumar of Forum for a Better Hyderabad. "Various structures have come up even within the boundary of the lake, in gross violation of heritage guidelines," he added.