India government grants environmental clearance for Rs5 billion new Telangana secretariat

Hyderabad: The Telangana government’s plan to build a grand state secretariat building in Hyderabad took a major step forward on Friday with the federal government granting environmental clearance to the Rs5 billion (Dhs251 million) project.

The clearance came after the state government’s assurance that none of the trees at the site of the proposed complex will be cut for the construction. The state government in its report said that of the 607 trees on the sprawling site 27 will be translocated to other spots in the same area and the remaining trees will be untouched.

The approval came from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest as the state government had granted all other permissions to the project contractor Shaporjee Pallonjee. Preparatory work has begun on the project site spread over an area of 26.29 acres where earlier secretariat buildings were located.

The environmental report clarified that none of the trees at the site were of endangered species. Most of the trees were of common species like Neem, Banyan, fig, tamarind, almond, palm and fruit bearing type.