Fencing works again stall at historic Lake

Rajendranagar: Despite the claims of authorities in GHMC and Irrigation Department that efforts are on to protect the lakes in and around the city, the ground reality is other way round. Several lakes on the outskirts are still crying for a proper fencing to keep them safe from all sorts of encroachments.

In the latest instance, the authorities of irrigation department have taken up fencing works at historic Bum Ruknud Dowka Lake a few days ago after a flip flop for several months. However, the works came to a grinding halt two days ago after some locals stood up against it raising objection to the boundaries set by the Irrigation Department.

It said that the officials have taken up fencing work with a preconceived notion that they at least fence the area, which is free from any controversy, in the initial phase and would move on to cover the entire encircling area in the next phase. However, the fencing works were halted after the locals started raising objection, seeking a proper demarcation of boundaries of the water body.

Though the officials are fully confident that they have planned the fencing works according to the official records available with them, the residents are saying that the officials are completely unaware of the actual boundaries of the water body.

According to the residents, there is a legal battle pending in the court on the issue, and the court has granted stay in the case. "The authorities neither have proper maps nor are they aware of the legal battle between the locals and the authorities concerned.

They are simply moving ahead with their plan putting several properties in danger. Their audacity to move on with the plan, overlooking the legal issue, will land them in contempt of court case, as the matter is already sub judice," said Srinivas Reddy, a local resident and a plot owner.

However, the officials claim that they have followed proper procedure in dealing with the matter. "We have moved according to FTL plan we have with us and started rudimentary works at the lake earlier this month.

However, the locals have raised objection questioning the authenticity of the actual boundaries established by the department. Right now, we have stalled the fencing work at the site and are preparing a report to be presented soon to the higher-ups," said the official on the request of anonymity.

"Actually, the dispute is among the local owners and the Revenue Department and the Irrigation Department is no way concerned with the controversy. Some sort of legal battle between the locals and the authority is there and it is making it difficult for us to move ahead with the plan," he added.