TS Govt urged to save lake from encroachers

Asifnagar: The activists of Save Our Urban Lakes (SOUL) have raised alarm over various activities happening within the lake Devuni Kunta (Humayun kunta) under Asifnagar Mandal. They said that lately the lake is being levelled, the bund was demolished, a road was laid and preparations are underway for plotting.

In a letter addressed to Chairman of Lake Protection Committee, HMDA Commissioner, the District Collector, District WALTA authority, the MRO, the GHMC Commissioner, the Commissioner of Police, TS Pollution Control Board and the Hyderabad MP, the SOUL activists LubnaSarwath, JasveenJairath, Sangamitra Malik, S Chakri and others demanded an immediate action against those engaged in 'illegal activities' inside the lake.

While referring to the assurances from authorities concerned over the complaints of encroachments earlier, they lamented that despite the complaints, all the efforts are being made by land sharks to encroach and sell it in the form of plots.

"It is pitiable to note that even as on June 22, 2019 the lake bund was dismantled, roads were laid and lake was being levelled with multiple JCBs operating within the FTL of the Devuni Kunta. Plotting maps are being circulated in the area," said Lubna Sarwath, former convenor at SOUL.

Sarwath urged the authorities to lodge a police complaint against the crime of dismantling bund and levelling of the lake. The precious water body in Asifnagar Mandal has to be protected and holding capacity of the lake needs to be increased for the benefit of all the people, so that water table increases.

All the bores have gone dry and pubic will not forgive the officials and Hyderabad MP for the crime and sin against humanity and life. The crime goes on in the background, in spite of all the officials being aware of it, she said.

It may be noted here that SOUL brought to the notice of the authorities about the activity within the FTL in March 2019. The Hyderabad District Collectorate requested the local Tahsildar to ensure its protection from all sorts of encroachments.

A fact-finding team of a voluntary organisation in March found that there were hutments inside the lake bed and watched over by 'supervisors,' who claimed there was no lake and that the lands were private lands with documents. Whereas, the locals from Hindu graveyard clarified that it was a lake.