Hyderabad: Watch towers to come up at water bodies

• Enforcement, Vigilance and Disaster Management (EVDM) wing of the GHMC has constituted Lake Protection Force to keep a watch on dumping debris and tackle encroachments

• There are 185 lakes in the twin cities; 20 in east zone, 21 in central zone, 82 lakes in west zone, 34 in north zone and 28 lakes in south zone

• As many as 95 watchkeepers are formed as lake protection force and deputed at 13 lakes under GHMC limits. More than 230 members are to be appointed at various lakes, considering their vulnerability

Hyderabad: In order to strengthen the surveillance at the lakes, the Enforcement, Vigilance and Disaster Management (EVDM) wing of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is planning to set up watch towers at lakes.

Issues such as dumping of debris and encroachments have been troubling officials. The EVDM wing along with other departments in GHMC like sanitation and irrigation department will be working to tackle the issues.

The EVDM wing has constituted 'Lake Protection Force' (LPF) with personnel taken other departments and are being given training. The priority would be safeguarding Full Tank Level (FTL) and buffer limits from being encroached. Prefabricated cabins would be provided at lakes and the personnel manning the cabins would be facilitated with necessary protective gear such as raincoats, dragon lights and safety shoes.

Presently, around 95 watchkeepers constituted as LPF have been deputed at 13 lakes in GHMC limits. More than 230 members would be appointed around 50 lakes on the basis of their vulnerability.

There are 185 lakes in the twin cities; 20 in east zone, 21 in central zone, 82 lakes in west zone, 34 in north zone and 28 lakes in south zone.

Speaking to THI, Viswajit Kampati, Director of EVDM, said, "We have asked zonal commissioners to zero in on the lakes that are in bad condition or are being encroached upon, so that the watchtowers will be set up on these lakes."

Talking about the LPF members, he said, "At present 95 LPF staff have been deputed at various lakes like Nagole Cheruvu, Banda Cheruvu, Nallagandla Lake, Hasmathpet Cheruvu and few other lakes. As there were several extra staff in departments like electricity, I was given an option to take them and train them to become members of the LPF. Most of the members of LPF are above 50s and we will also be appointing young members so that they can take help of the existing members."

" We have asked zonal commissioners to zero in on the lakes that are in bad condition or are being encroached upon, so that the watchtowers will be set up on these lakes"

– Viswajit Kampati, Director of EVDM

Lake protection force deputed

Name of the Lake and No of LPF Members

 Saroornagar Cheruvu 8

Bathula Cheruvu 7

Nagole Cheruvu 7

Banda Cheruvu 8

Mukidi Cheruvu (RK Puram lake) 7

Langar Houz Katta 8

Nallagandla Lake 7

Saaki Cheruvu 7

Hasmathpet Cheruvu 8

Durgam Cheruvu 7

Fox Sagar Lake 7

Jubilee hills 7

Nallagandla lake 7

Fox Sagar Lake (Quthbullapur) : 4 criminal cases have been filed, 6 illegal structures have been demolished and a case was filed against one lorry and auto tipper for dumping debris

 Hasmathpet Cheruvu (Bowenpally) : 3 illegal structures demolished

Durgam Cheruvu (Hi-Tec City) : Tiffin centers erected in the buffer zone were evicted

Saaki Chervu (Patancheru) : one criminal case has been filed

Saroornagar Cheruvu (Dilsukhnagar) : 4 illegal structures demolished

Nagole Cheruvu (Nagole) : one illegal structure demolished

Bathula Cheruvu (Hayathnagar) : three illegal structures demolished

Mukidi Cheruvu (RK Puram) : 2 illegal structures demolished

Miralam Tank : The Deputy City Planner, Charminar zone assisted the team to clear around 35 encroachments