The state government is yet to get a financial grant of Rs 1,000 crore from the Centre for COP-11 (Conference of Parties) on biodiversity to be held in Hyderabad in October this year. Arrangements for the mega-event should have begun by this time. The state government is tense over the Centre’s non-committal response to its request for funds for holding COP-11.
Union minister for environment Jayanti Natarajan, in her letter to the state government, said all help would be extended, but there was no word on the financial aspects. The state needs Rs 500 crore immediately in order to start the work. The GHMC alone needs Rs 100 crore for civic works on six routes leading to the Hyderabad International Convention Centre, the venue of the event that will be attended by delegates from around 180 countries.
A state official from the forests and environment ministry said: “With no funds available with the departments, it is difficult to begin work. Apart from venue management, city beautification and road laying works are also key to the success of the event.” The six routes leading to the HICC from the city’s hotels are full of points where water-logging takes place, and there are unleveled manholes, religious structures, encroachments on footpaths and roads with potholes where repair is ongoing.
The traffic police of Hyderabad and Cyberabad have written to the state government, highlighting the urgent need for the sanction of funds. The modern electronic signalling system at traffic junctions is also yet to take off. The traffic police proposed separate COP-11 traffic lanes and a light or a special identity tag for vehicles ferrying delegates.