Vedakumar Manikonda

Manikonda Vedakumar (born 1952) had his early schooling at his native village Pregnapur of Medak District in Telangana. He is a civil engineer from Mysore University and Holds Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) Post Graduation from SPA,JNTU, Hyderabad, Telangana State. As a Civil Engineer he joined Roads & Buildings Department, Government of A.P., and served at various capacities like Traffic & Transport Engineer, Road Research station and investigation Division, conducted surveys at State Level and held training programmes to departmental engineers.

Present he is holding the offices of :

As a President of Forum For A Better Hyderabad, he strived in bringing to light issues pertaining to Urban Planning, Development and Management, Heritage Conservation, Lakes & Water Bodies, Water supply, Drainage, Parks, Forests and Open Space, Traffic & Transportation, Water & Air Pollution, Solid & Industrial Waste Management. The Forum is focused on issues pertaining to Sustainable Development of Hyderabad and this region by highlighting the ecological and environmental problems caused by uncaring and unthinking developmental activities disregarding required prior assessment. Mr.M.Vedakumar has been working for the past 2 ½ decades to protect the built heritage. Under his initiative INTACH and other Forums managed to protect 25 heritage monuments viz., Gandhi Medical College, G-Block, Moula Ali Kaman, Laad Bazar, Mitti Ka Sher, Naya Qila, Qutub Shahi Tombs, Jamsingh Narayan Temple etc.,

The tree cutting in and around twin cities is in watchful eyes of the Group, Mr.M.Vedakumar along with concerned citizens with continuous persuasion made the Ministry of Forest to frame guidelines on tree cutting by constituting Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy District Level Committee to look into the aspect. Due to these efforts many trees were saved including 200 year old ones.

He got the honour of heading with a project on Musi River conservation and restoration with Humboldt University, Germany. He was also invited to International Water Conference as a speaker at Berlin where he spoke on Hyderabad water issue and Musi river need for integrated solution. Protection of Lakes and Ponds in the city from encroachment and violations of rules in the catchment areas is an activity, which needed immediate attention. Under the Leadership of Mr.Vedakumar has saved many Heritage Buildings, Lakes and ponds in the city.

As a heritage activist he had a privilege to be the Co-convenor of INTACH, A.P., State Chapter for three years till Sep,2014, he strived for protecting precincts, rock formation, monuments and vernacular architecture. He is Heading of a Project of IHLP (Hyderabad Heritage Listing Project) in 2007. He was the Convenor for INTACH Silver Jubilee Celebrations in 2009. As a part of it, he organized many heritage activities viz., talks on tangible and intangible heritage in many TV channels and radio stations to create awareness among the public, conducted heritage walks, quiz competition, heritage site visits for school children. He played a key role in establishing Heritage Clubs at school and college levels in the state. Due to his efforts first Student Heritage Club of the country was formed at Degree College in Hyderabad. Started with 23 Heritage Clubs at school levels. Mr.Vedakumar along with noted film makers, writers, intellectuals, social activists visited 18 heritage sites which were under threat and brought to the notice of authorities. Most of them happened to be heritage structures of State and National importance like Kondapur, Kotiligala, a Shatavahana site, Rachkonda, Gandari Kota, Undru Konda etc.,

...
Wikipedia