Encroachments galore near Tank Bund

Representation made to GHMC by SOUL

Sarguru Dargah premises near the Tank Bund X Roads opposite DBR Mills, has been subjected to illegal encroachments by car repairing centres and unauthorised display of large hoardings for advertisements. The land is in the jurisdiction of the Dargah and Wakf lands and the encroachment is in contravention of the Supreme Court order of 2005 that prohibits construction in, on or around the Hussain Sagar Lake.

Dr Lubna Sarwath, co-convener of Save Our Urban Lakes (SOUL), said, “It is quite shocking to see such illegal encroachments and unauthorised structures coming up in the heart of the city. The revenue department should be more alert to such developments and forestall these activities. The encroachers should be evicted from the Dargah and Wakf lands at once. Action has to be taken through a joint effort by the GHMC, HMDA, irrigation and the police department.”

“The Apex Court, that is yet to pronounce its verdict on the appeal, had in April 2005 issued an interim order stalling all construction activity in and around the Hussain Sagar Lake without the consent of the court. The move was aimed at saving Hyderabad's most important water body from further encroachments,” Lubna added.

Muffawalli Mhd Ismail, a member of Dargah Hazrath Sarguru Moinuddin of Jamia Masjid Mohammedin lal - Mohammed (graveyard) in Lower Tank Bund, had made a representation to the GHMC, Hyderabad District Collector, Wakf Board and other agencies, on December 26, 2012, complaining that the graveyard was being encroached for commercial activities.

He claimed that there was no more place left for cremation and that a boundary wall needs to be developed to prevent such encroachments. 22 months have elapsed but no action has been taken by the concerned authorities till date. Lubna lodged a complaint with the GHMC on Monday demanding immediate action against the encroachers.