Report on “Operation LUNGS” Initiative by Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC)

Introduction: Advancing Urban Sustainability through “Operation LUNGS”

The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has launched a significant urban renewal project, “Operation LUNGS” (Life to Urban Green Spaces). This initiative is strategically designed to restore neglected parks and reclaim reserved open public areas from illegal encroachment. The operation directly supports the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on creating sustainable, resilient, and healthy urban environments.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

“Operation LUNGS” is a direct implementation of key SDG principles, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable urban development. The initiative’s impact spans multiple goals:

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The core objective aligns with Target 11.7, which aims to provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible green and public spaces. By protecting and restoring these areas, GVMC enhances the quality of urban life and promotes community well-being.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: Urban green spaces are critical for public health, offering areas for recreation, reducing air pollution, and mitigating the urban heat island effect, thereby contributing to the physical and mental health of residents.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: Protecting these reserved sites helps preserve urban biodiversity and maintain local ecosystems, contributing to the broader goal of halting biodiversity loss.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The decisive action taken by the GVMC, supported by a special task force and local police, exemplifies effective and accountable governance. Enforcing planning regulations and removing illegal encroachments strengthens the rule of law and institutional integrity.

Strategic Directive and Execution

The operational mandate for this initiative was established during a high-level review meeting on July 24, chaired by GVMC Mayor Peela Srinivasa Rao and Commissioner Ketan Garg. The urban planning department was tasked with identifying all at-risk open spaces and executing a plan to remove violations. In a coordinated effort, the town planning department, with support from a dedicated task force and local police, successfully cleared encroachments from 15 reserved sites in a single day, demonstrating a robust commitment to achieving the project’s goals and upholding urban planning standards in line with SDG 11.

Geographical Scope of Enforcement Actions

The anti-encroachment drive was conducted across multiple zones within the GVMC’s jurisdiction. The identified and cleared sites are detailed as follows:

1. Zone 1:
   • Sangivalasa
2. Zone 2:
   • Prashanthi Nagar
   • Teachers Layout
   • D.R.K. Raju Township Layout
   • Kommadi
   • Kotha Palem
   • Madhuravada
   • A.S.R. Nagar
3. Zone 3:
   • East Point Colony
4. Zone 4:
   • H.B. GVMC
5. Zone 5:
   • Colony Layout
   • Nakkavanipalem Layout
   • Marripalem Layout
6. Zone 6:
   • Lankalapalem
   • Shivaji Nagar Layout
   • Godavari Township in Narava

1. SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  This goal is directly addressed as the article focuses on the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation’s (GVMC) efforts to improve the urban environment. The initiative ‘Operation LUNGS’ aims to restore parks and protect open green spaces, which are crucial components of sustainable and livable cities.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  This goal is relevant because the protection and restoration of urban green spaces contribute to halting biodiversity loss and protecting terrestrial ecosystems. Parks and open areas in cities are micro-ecosystems that support local flora and fauna, and the article highlights a direct action to protect these land areas from encroachment.

2. Specific SDG Targets Identified

• Target 11.3: Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management.

  The article demonstrates action towards this target through the GVMC’s town planning department’s initiative. The “review meeting held on July 24” and the subsequent tasking of the department to “identify and protect open spaces” is a clear example of active and sustainable human settlement planning and management by a local authority.

• Target 11.7: Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces.

  The core purpose of ‘Operation LUNGS’ is to “restore neglected parks and protect reserved open areas.” By removing encroachments from these sites, the GVMC is working to ensure these areas are accessible to the public, directly aligning with the goal of providing access to green and public spaces.

• Target 15.9: Integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes.

  The GVMC’s initiative integrates the value of ecosystems (urban green spaces, or ‘LUNGS’) into its local planning and enforcement processes. By dedicating a “special task force” to clear encroachments, the city is actively implementing a local plan that prioritizes the protection of these valuable urban ecosystems.

3. Indicators for Measuring Progress

• Number of reserved sites cleared of encroachments

  The article explicitly states that the town planning department “successfully removed encroachments in 15 reserved sites in just one day.” This provides a direct, quantifiable indicator of progress towards protecting public spaces.

• Implementation of local plans for sustainable urban management

  The initiative ‘Operation LUNGS’ itself serves as an indicator. The article details its implementation through the actions of the “town planning department,” the “special task force,” and “local police,” following a high-level review meeting. This shows a structured plan is in place and being executed.

• Geographical area of reclaimed public space

  While not quantified in square meters, the article implies this indicator by listing the numerous zones and specific layouts where encroachments were removed, such as “Sangivalasa,” “Kommadi,” “East Point Colony,” “Nakkavanipalem Layout,” and “Lankalapalem.” The extensive list demonstrates the scale of the operation and the area of land being reclaimed for public use.

4. Summary Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: deccanchronicle.com