Local bodies are preparing a Greater Hyderabad City biodiversity Index, on the lines of the Singapore biodiversity index, with all details of green cover, flora, fauna and urban ecosystems and their management.
Several agencies like the GHMC, State Biodiversity Board, National Remote Sensing Agency and Osmania University are involved in the preparation of the biodiversity index.
The index will help in identifying the lacunae in biodiversity management in Greater Hyderabad and adopting effective urban green policies.
The index will give details of the proportion of natural area and protected areas, connectivity of ecological networks, native biodiversity mostly bird species around the Golf Course, change in number of vascular plants, birds, fresh water fishes in lakes like Hussainsagar and other water bodies, butterflies and other groups like fungi and bryophytes, proportion of invasive alien species like allergic plant Parthenium, German cockroaches as against native species.
GHMC additional commissioner (Parks) Ms Anuradha said, “We had issued a tender for preparation of the index but the bids were not finalised as there were disparities. One of the bidders quoted `26 lakh.”