Hyderabad: On the direction of Chief Minister of Telangana K. Chandrashekar Rao, GHMC 
Officials led by Rammohan Rao, Deputy Director – GHMC along with 30 residents of Mamatha Nagar Colony and Venkataramana Colony visited Pragati Resort, part of Pragati Bio-diversity Knowledge Park near Chilkur Balaji temple on Saturday to have the first hand knowledge on development of herbal heritage plantation within the city limits. GHMC Circle Manager Bhaskar, Mahendar and Shoukath Hussain and Srinivas Reddy the President of Venkataramana colony and Mamathanagar colony were present on the occasion.
The chief minister during his recent public address at Nagole on 15th March, 2015, expressed his dissatisfaction over the unclean surroundings and accumulatd garbage in Mamatha Nagar Colonmy and Venakataramana Colony and directed the concerned GHMC Officials to arrange a visit of the colonies to Pragati Biodiversity Knowledge Park so as to bring in the required awareness among the residents of those and other colonies to replicate the Pragati model of herbal heritage plantation. In his address he lauded Pragati as an ideal Biodiversity Park created by DR.GBK Rao, Chairman & Managing Director, Pragati Group. The park spread across 2500 acres with 27 lacs herbal heritage plantation is zero pollution, mosquito free, bad bacteria free and virus free zone with the temperature levels 5 to 6 degrees lesser than city levels. He appealed to the public to follow Pragati model and try to improve the surroundings of colonies by enhancing green cover.
These officials and residents keenly observed and noted their observation on 750 rare varieties of sacred, herbal, medicinal, aromatic plants as explained to them by Dr. S.V. Rama Rao, expert Pragati Group on herbal green technology. These herbal heritage green plants have the capacity to absorb toxic emissions and make the surroundings pollution free. Pragati has reciprocated to CM’s call by launching it’s herbal urban forestry drive in association with representatives of various resident welfare associations following CM’s public address at Nagole.
Dr. G.B.K. Rao, CMD, Pragati Resorts explained the importance of various medicinal, herbal and aromatic plants and their usages for our wellness. He apprised the visitors of the imperative need for development of Greenery and plantation for protection of earth from global warming, natural calamities and deadly viruses to lead towards a ‘Disease Free Society’ espousing our rich Vedic culture. He suggested adopting innovative ways of plantation such as Vertical Gardens, Hanging Gardens, and Square Foot Gardens to overcome the threats posed by concrete jungles and stressed on the dire need for promoting urban forestry.
GHMC Officials said that Govt. of Telangana is going on a big way for development of greenery under ‘Telanganku Haritha Harram’ and Pragati as role model is to be replicated all over Telangana.