Draft master plan-2040 flags lack of green areas in city

Thiruvananthapuram: The capital city, which promises urbanization and infrastructure development, barely has its share of green spaces, according to the draft document prepared for Trivandrum’s master plan-2040. The document, which will be subjected to a series of consultative processes in the coming days before finalization, shows that the total area of green space available in the city is roughly about 2.2sq km. This accounts for only 0.01% of the total land use.
The per capita availability of green spaces in Thiruvananthapuram is just 2.23sq m and is way below 10-12sq m/person, the standards set according to urban and regional development plans formulation and implementation (URDPFI) guidelines issued by ministry of housing and urban affairs.
The document notes that with the development of the city, unorganized green spaces are being converted into built-up area. “Much of the green spaces that the city was once proud of have been lost in the mindless pursuit of urbanization,” the document notes.
The draft plan says that planned green spaces are lacking in the city, except for museum and zoo compounds, Veli and Akkulam. The draft plan takes note of Vellayambalam-Kowdiar road as a model road that incorporates environmental aspects. “This road with a good driveway, lowered footpath with trees providing ample shade shows how greenery can be added on roadsides,” the document notes. It also mentions traffic parks near major junctions which significantly contribute to the city’s landscape.
The guidelines note that open spaces include three main categories — recreational space, organized green and other common spaces (such as vacant lands/open spaces, including flood plains, forest cover, etc). The organized green is spread across housing clusters, neighbourhoods, communities, district and sub-city centre. As per the draft, there are a specific number of local parks and playgrounds for each unit.
Generally, plan guidelines moot green areas and other associated non-economic activities on government reserved land. It also calls for fair compensation to land owners if the open/green spaces which do not generate income are proposed on privately-owned land.
Four projects were proposed for green spaces and parks under AMRUT project in the city at a cost of Rs 5.85crore. One project has so far been completed and the expenditure incurred is 30%. The department of town and country planning, which completed the draft GIS-based master plan for Trivandrum-2040, has initiated steps for approval of the corporation council.