Hyderabad: Every high-rise building, colonies and even office blocks are to be demolished following the High Court’s order on earmarking the full tank level of water bodies in GHMC and HMDA jurisdiction.
Ironically, the encroachment is so rampant that both the corporations have no list of illegal constructions on lake beds. A recent survey revealed that Durgam Cheruvu is now the fastest encroached lake, between 2010 and 2014 April. Twenty multi-storied building have come up between April to September 4, around the lake.
In urban Hyderabad, many water bodies have either vanished or are majorly encroached upon. Singadi Kunta lake, which once existed in the upstream of Banjara hills, has been erased completely and sadly its name is not found in the lakes enumeration.
In Chinnara, as many as 500 lakes are struggling to survive in the urban areas of Hyderabad and more than 200 water bodies, which once existed, are no longer mentioned in the lakes enumeration. As many as four colonies have come up in Shikam Kotha Cheruvu in Alwal. Locals have dumped debris in the lake, acquired land and have constructed colonies.
Durgam Cheruvu, which was once spread across 160 acres has now shrunk to 80 and 90 acres, which is half its size. The IT Raheja Park earlier had three lakes, however, now office blocks have come up.
Earlier in July the GHMC had identified encroachments in the buffer zone and full tank level of 169 lakes in its jurisdiction and announced demolition of all ongoing and completed constructions at these spots. That remains an announcement.
