| SPEQL-JOINING
HANDS TO MAKE A BETTER CITY |
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 There
are many problems besetting the denizens of the city.
Traffic congestion is increasing in the city, pollution
levels have reached new heights and water scarcity has
become a part and parcel of our lives. No one is really
caring about such kind of vexing problems which are
affecting the day to day life of the people. In this
back drop, a group of retired people have come together
to form a non-political, voluntary oragnisation known
as SPEQL ( Society for Preservation of Environment
and Quality of Life) who are trying to address
the problems faced by the Hyderabadis through Public
Interest Litigation, convening meetings with the government
officials and by organising awareness campaigns among
the people.
 Formed
in 1988 by a group of committed, retired people with
IAS and IPS backgrounds, SPEQL is playing an active
part in making the city a better place to live. "The
city is ours and it is certainly our responsibility
to protect the city from all kinds of bad effects",
says Sajjala Jeevananda Reddy, an agricultural
meteorologist and Secretary of the SPEQL. The members
of the organization may be retired from their professions,
but they are no way tired in taking up the issues concerning
the people. SPEQL led by its President Mrs Anuradha
Reddy and the secretary Mr Jeevananda Reddy have
recently recommended following points to be incorporated
in the master plan of the HUDA ( Hyderabad Urban
Development Authority ). The recommendations were
related to the protection of the water bodies, easing
of traffic congestion, reducing the pollution levels,
increasing the greenery in and around the city and about
providing basic infrastructure like water to the people.
 With
its motto to serve the people, SPEQL is actively taking
up the issue of errant builders who are constructing
buildings but without providing basic facilities. "Many
buildings that are coming up in the city do not have
basic facilities like parking space and water supply.
We are trying to bring pressure upon the builders and
also on the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (
MCH) so that the buildings are constructed without
violating the norms prescribed by the MCH," says
Jeevananda Reddy. SPEQL members also sit with the government
officials' in charting out an action plan for the betterment
of the city. Recently Hyderabad District Water and Sewerage
Committee has identified about the presence of 1000
lakes in and around the city. The SPEQL members have
sat with the committee officials and suggested an action
plan which includes desilting of the lakes and protecting
them from illegal encroachments. "Hyderabad was once
known as the city of lakes. But many lakes have either
dried up or became garbage dumping grounds. Now we must
at least try to preserve the remaining lakes," says
Mr Reddy.
In its pursuit to make the city a better place to live,
SPEQL has also done a remarkable job recently by starting
a vermi-compost project in the Gaddiannaram fruit market.
"The project is envisaged at converting the solid
waste into manure which is useful for the growth of
the plants," says Jeevananda Reddy, who earlier
worked with ICRISAT and Food and Agricultural Organization.
 The
non-political body of the retired people is concentrating
on minimizing the air pollution in the city too. They
have recommend to the AP Pollution Control Board to
not allow more than 25 years old vehicles onto the roads.
"These old vehicles are mostly responsible for the
increase in pollution levels. And the government has
agreed to remove these vehicles in a phased manner",
says Jeevananda Reddy. Other issue highlighted by this
group includes the drastic change in the land use pattern
which is affecting the health of the people in industrial
areas like Balanagar and Jeedimetla.
The organization also brings out a bi-monthly magazine
"Hyderabad Bachao- Save Hyderabad" to bring to
light the issues concerning the people. Mrs Anuradha
Reddy is the president of the 183 member SPEQL group.
The other notable members of it include Mr Rajamani
IPS, Mr Sarvottham Rao, IFS and Capt J Rama Rao.
Address: Society for Preservation
of Environment and Quality of Life, 3-6-369/A/20, First
Floor, Street #1, Himayatnagar, Hyderabad-500 029.
Phone: 763 4384
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