Support from Intellectuals for Musi Rejuvenation and Conservation of Lakes

Call to Incorporate Public Opinion in Policy DecisionsComprehensive Consultation at the Hakku Initiative Forum

Hyderabad: Ms. Kota Neelima, Director of the Hakku Initiative, announced that the Telangana government's decision to restore and rejuvenate the Musi River and conserve lakes and ponds has garnered significant support from intellectuals and civil society representatives. However, participants emphasized the need to gather public opinion, particularly from local communities, and to base government policies and decisions on these inputs.

On Saturday, the Hakku Initiative organized a consultation program titled “Demolitions in Hyderabad” at the Filmnagar Cultural Centre. Social activists, lawyers, academics, environmentalists, and other prominent intellectuals from various fields engaged in a panel discussion, offering valuable insights and suggestions.

Based on these discussions, the Hakku Initiative has drafted a set of resolutions focusing on the rejuvenation of the Musi River and the conservation of lakes and ponds. Ms. Neelima revealed that these resolutions would be submitted to the government soon. She emphasized that the current government’s policy in Telangana prioritizes public consultation in decision-making and policy formulation.

The Hakku Initiative has been conducting a series of such public consultation programs to address pressing issues. Ms. Neelima highlighted the initiative’s success in providing effective solutions through collaborative discussions and confirmed that similar programs are planned for the future.

Saturday’s consultation was attended by several prominent personalities, including Dr. Padmaja Shah, Kodali Srinivas, Durga Prasad, Ashok Bhashin, Pankaj Aggarwal, Dr. Narasimha Reddy, Dr. Lubna Sarwat, Dr. Ananth Mariganti, Rubina Nafees, Sujatha Surepalli, Dr. Prabhu Kumar, and Syed Bilal. Directors of the Hakku Initiative, Rahul Hemnani and Anuj Parthy, Senior Journalist Ravikanti Srinivas, and Nandan Krupakar of the Bharat Swabhiman Trust also participated in the event.