Summary:
Gurgaon: The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority ( GMDA ) has started a survey on land use to understand the actual green cover and the level of concretisation in the city.A team has been set up to assess the green cover, and an aerial survey is also being done for this purpose. GMDA is likely to use satellite images and the Geographic Information System to study enviromental changes in recent years. Other factors such as hydrology in different parts of the city will also be studied. The GMDA will compare the final numbers with the required green cover as per global standards.“The findings from the survey will give us an idea of the current situation and we can draw up our urban environment management plan accordingly,” said MD Sinha, additional CEO, GMDA.The findings, which will be shared publicly, will give officials an indication of the extent of resourcsses required for increasing the city’s green cover.While the draft liveability index prepared by GMDA claims a green cover of 7 sqm per person, sources said that the number might be as low as 2 to 3 sqm per person.TOI had earlier reported about the GMDA’s plan to conduct an area-wise survey of the various environmental factors, including green cover, level of concretisation, water flow and groundwater levels..