SOUL to move court on missing ‘Mekasani Kunta’

  Rajendranagar: The Save Our Urban Lakes (SOUL) , an NGO, has decided to knock on the doors of court over the missing lake named Mekasani Kunta, which is spread over 17 acres of land near Puppalaguda village in Rajendranagar mandal.

Following a visit made by activists of Save Our Urban Lakes (SOUL) to survey number 285 under Gandipet mandal, which was identified by HMDA as a water body spread across 17 acres and 30 guntas, has been land filled. They have decided to seek explanation from the officials concerned. On Monday, Dr Lubna Sarwath, Socialist Party (India), general secretary Telangana, Dr Jasveen Jairath, co-founder and first convenor - SOUL and Sanghamitra Malik, poetess and activist, demanded explanation from the head of the departments before taking legal recourse. While referring to the toposheet of Survey of India and google earth imagery and HUDA Master Plan, they pointed out that the water body was land filled. Even as Ranga Reddy Collectorate officially concluded ‘that it is evident there is no water body in survey no. 285 of Puppalaguda village' on January 7, 2017’. “As per HMDA Master Plan 2031 and HUDA Master Plan 2021 survey number 285 in Puppalaguda village is notified as a water body. In spite of documentary and filed proof, declaring that ‘there is no water body is criminal and unforgivable,” pointed out Lubna.

The activist further added that this was blatant contempt of court done by RR district Collectorate. “If the authorities do not initiate action, we shall be filing a PIL or contempt of Supreme Court order which has emphasized on the protection of lakes,” she added.

Amongst SOUL’s demands, besides restoration of the water body (implies with buffer zone) in survey no 285 and open up its channels flowing from north to allow it to live so that life sustains, it asked for ensuring the nala (implies with  buffer zone) that is flowing from west to east on the north of the water body along survey nos 287, 288, 289,185 to the west & 281,284,280, 279 to the east, is devoid of any encroachments. Revoking the notification reverting the land use to water-zone as per HMDA Master Plan, initiating proceedings against the officials involved in issuing the letter that concludes 'that it is evident there is no water body in survey no. 285 of Puppalaguda village on 7 January 2017 are other demands.