Hyderabad will be playing host to the Conference of Parties (CoP) to the convention on bio-diversity, billed as the biggest international event ever hosted by India, from October 1 to 19. The conference will deliberate on issues concerning conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and regulated access to genetic resources.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the global meet to be attended by over 8,000 delegates from 193 countries which are parties to convention on bio-diversity. This is the first time that the bio-diversity convention is being organised in India.
The state capital of Andhra Pradesh, known as the city of minarets and pearls is being decked up to host the prestigious event which will see participation by heads of states, ministers and bio-diversity experts from across the globe. The arrangements are in full swing at the state-of-the-art Hyderabad International Convention Centre, the meeting venue.
The Planning Commission has sanctioned Rs three billion to improve the city infrastructure ahead of COP-11 while the state government is spending Rs4.50 billion for the purpose.
A Biodiversity, Museum & Park is being established on a 15-acre site. About 400 rare plant species would be procured to be planted by VVIPs in the proposed park. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is improving the roads along a stretch of 120km. As part of measures related to biodiversity conservation, India was one of the first few countries in the world to enact a national legislation called the Biological Diversity Act in 2002, which contains provisions for benefit sharing.
2012 Khaleej Times