HYDERABAD, July 30: Physical execution of prioritized development schemes under the Hyderabad Development Package and the Hyderabad Special Project will start in August. This was decided at a meeting to discuss implementation of Hyderabad development packages at the DCO’s camp office here on Saturday. DCO Mohammad Hussain Syed presided over the meeting.

Consultants of the development package, engineers of the Hyderabad Development Authority and the works and services department attended the meeting and discussed the status of proposed development schemes.

Speaking at the meeting, the DCO said construction of filter plants, sewerage and water supply works and flyover bridges on busy roads were being given priority to provide immediate relief to people.

He formed a four-member committee, headed by the coordinator of the Hyderabad Development Project, Syed Ali Akbar Shah, to revise and redraft the master plan of the project because many of the schemes previously included in the package were either being executed under the Annual Development Programme or had been deleted due to technical reasons. Similarly, many new schemes had been proposed for inclusion in the project and size of many schemes had been increased or decreased. The DCO added that the master plan should be updated keeping in view the present position and requirements and overlapping should be avoided.

He said construction of storm water drains, one additional lagoon for storing water, opening of new corridors to expand the city and development of the Rani Bagh were the main new proposed schemes.

Endorsing a proposal by the consultants, the DCO allowed issuance of tenders to conduct soil investigation and install piezo-meters at various sites of works and locations to evaluate surface and sub-surface soil quality to ensure sustainability of development works.

He also directed the consultants to prepare a master plan for development of the Rani Bagh to make it a hub of entertainment facilities for people of Hyderabad and adjoining areas. He informed the meeting that Rs40 million had been earmarked for development of the zoo of the Rani Bagh. He directed the authority concerned to re-tender development schemes of the zoo so that a competitive bid could be ensured. He said many organizations and individuals had offered for providing animals and other required facilities for the zoo free of cost.

The DCO told the meeting that Rs70 million had been earmarked for development of other parks, playgrounds and graveyards in the three talukas of the city. In this regard, he said, tenders of 30 works had been invited, 25 of which had been responded by contractors who would soon be issued work orders.

He directed the authority concerned to prepare a separate scheme for establishment of Al-Jazeera park. He also asked the consultants to prepare a feasibility report for construction of a road over the protective bund of the Indus River.

Discussing technical problems, the DCO formed a technical committee, headed by the project coordinator with three engineers from the HDA, EDO, works and services, and the director, town planning, Hyderabad, as members, to scrutinize, evaluate and solve technical problems of the development schemes.