A team of officials will study aquaria in various countries to decide on the model best suited for the world-class aquarium proposed to be established in Hyderabad as part of the biodiversity complex.
The Rs.500-crore aquarium, proposed to be funded by the National Fisheries Development Board, was announced by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, during his visit here earlier this year.
This was stated by Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy while expressing happiness over the over the successful conclusion of the Conference of Parties to the Convention of Biodiversity here on Saturday. He said he was confident that 19-day-long mega event had immensely helped in enhancing Hyderabad’s brand image within India and abroad.
He was particularly pleased that the parties had reached a consensus (in the form of the Hyderabad Call for Biodiversity Champions). Such an agreement was essential for the benefit of future generations and the onus now lay on his government on educating people on importance of the Hyderabad declaration.
Talking to a group of journalists here on Saturday, Mr. Reddy described CoP-11 as the biggest-ever international summit held in India in terms of participation of 11,000 delegates from 175 countries. As many as 77 Ministers took part in the high-level segment from October 17 to 19 while Mayors of 217 cities attended the City Mayor’s conference.
Mr. Kiran Reddy said Hyderabad had joined the league of reputed cities such as Singapore, Bonn and Brussels following the release of the ‘Greater Hyderabad City Biodiversity Index’. Hyderabad may have just got ‘pass marks’ on the biodiversity index, but was the first city in India and 15 in the world to have such an index.
The Chief Minister said although the CoP was hosted in 10 cities earlier, Hyderabad was the first to erect a commemorative pylon and a biodiversity complex in which a national biodiversity museum would be established. This gesture was appreciated by delegates of all the countries. Expressing his gratitude to 9,000 police personnel, over 3,000 government employees and thousands of volunteers for the success of CoP-11, he said every section of society had cooperated in ensuring that the image of Hyderabad was not sullied.
