Foreword

The Central Pollution Control Board, under the Zoning Atlas programme has taken a lead role in the field of spatial environmental planning in India. The programme is aimed at achieving development targets, especially those of industries in an environmentally acceptable manner. The programme is a part of the World bank funded Environment Management Capacity Building Technical Assistance project. The Executing Agencies are the State Pollution Control Boards or other Departments identified by the State Government. Capacities are being built on various technical aspects related to planning and mapping including interpretation of data, maps/information, and using advanced techniques such as GIS, remote sensing, modeling etc. The capacities are also being built on the implementation/usage of the results generated under the programme.

In Andhra Pradesh, Environment, Protection Training and Research Institute (EPTRI), Hyderabad is executing various activities under the Zoning Atlas programme. Centre for Spatial Environmental Planning has been set up at EPTRI with facilities including GIS software, hardware and other equipment and qualified manpower. In Andhra Pradesh, the preparation of Zoning Atlas for East Godavari District was taken up in the fist phase during 1995-1997. Subsequently, Medak and Rangareddy Districts were taken up in the 2nd phase during 1997-99.eports have been prepared using Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques and the latest remote sensing data. The expertise being developed at EPTRI under the Zoning Atlas programme is hoped to make a modest beginning to the spatial environmental planning needs of Andhra Pradesh.

We express our sincere thanks to the various agencies involved viz. National Remote Sensing agency , Hyderabad , Survey of India, District Administration and other State and Central Govt. Departments for extending their cooperation and providing the needed support in completion of the Atlas.

We hope, the Atlas for Medak District will help proper siting of the industrial units and will provide useful information to all concerned.