Officials to conduct fresh survey of Mir Alam tank

• GHMC Rajendranagar circle had demolished some 50 structures terming them as illegal

• However, the victims approach HC saying that the structures were built outside the FTL or buffer zone of the lake

• With things still hazy, HC asks officials to conduct survey afresh in presence of victims

Rajendranagar: Authorities have geared up to conduct survey of Mir Alam lake afresh, following a recent court order to conduct survey towards establishing the actual boundaries of Full Tank Level (FTL) and buffer zone of the historic lake.

The Ranga Reddy district administration, especially the officials of revenue and irrigation departments have geared up to identify and record the FTL afresh. "We communicated to all the concerned departments informing them about the court orders and the scheduled survey to be conducted on July 31 by applying due procedures. According to the court instructions the intended survey will be given wide publicity and advertising through newspapers," said an official concerned on the condition of anonymity.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Town Plaining Wing of GHMC Rajendranagar took up demolition of about 50 shades at Mir Alam Lake against illegal encroachments on the water body that prompted the victims to approach the High Court. Later, the court issued an order asking the Tahsildar Rajendranagar, R R District and the Superintendent Engineer (Irrigation) to conduct survey of the boundaries to constitute FTL and Buffer Zone of the lake.

According to order, the controversy is with reference to alleged illegal constructions inside FTL or Buffer Zone of the lake most of which were demolished by the GHMC previous month. In the court, the counsel for petitioners argued that the authorities took up the demolition of their properties located in Survey.Nos.295 and 296 while the show cause notice served by the authorities refers to Survey.No.293. As such, the properties under both the survey Nos. 295 and 296, stands outside the FTL and or buffer zone.

The government pleader contended that though the Survey Nos 295 and 296 are not mentioned in the show cause notice; they are also a part of FTL and or Buffer Zone itself. Therefore, no construction, manufacturing or production activity, which causes pollution to the water body, can be undertaken. However, there appears to be no clarity on what exactly constitutes the FTL or Buffer Zone, said the court order.

The court asked the Tahsildar and the Superintendent Engineer (Irrigation) to conduct the survey in the presence of petitioners. The court further instructed the authorities to file a report before August 8 while asking the petitioners to be present on the disputed site on the date of conducting the survey.

Officials hopeful of achieving match with old survey records

In accordance with the court orders, the authorities – who already have the maps of the boundaries of FTL and Buffer Zone - are now planning to conduct the survey afresh as per the orders issued by the court. "Although we have with us the maps of actual boundaries that notified few years back, we shall be following the orders of the court," Informed the official.

The commercial shades, the official noted, which were pulled down during the demolition drive comes under the purview of prohibited area according to the maps we have with us. Beside these shades, there are several houses constructed over the years too stands over the water body. "Although we have constructed a boundary wall partially to protect the water body from encroachments, some people barged into the restricted area by taking advantage of the partially build wall and carried out the constructions," he added.

However, until now, no tatam (a mode of announcement to attract the attention of people in older times) has been witnessed by the locals nor are the notices were seen pasted anywhere in the area. "We are yet to see any activity on the ground over the issue, anywhere in the areas around Rajendranagar, neither the notices have been pasted anywhere in the locality," said Sadiq Bin Salam, a resident of Hassan Nagar.