Telangana: Two-member panel inspects 3 lakes for encroachment
The committee inspected the Mella Cheruvu, the Vanam Cheruvu and the Chelikunta Canal.
Hyderabad: Though Thakur Rajkumar Singh has 12 other cases pending at the National Green Tribunal, only two have borne fruit. A two-member committee consisting of a senior advocate Prabhakara Reddy and a retired officer from the irrigation department of Tamil Nadu inspected three lakes in Tellapur village on Thursday to check for encroachment.
The committee inspected the Mella Cheruvu, the Vanam Cheruvu and the Chelikunta Canal. “On Friday, the committee members will inspect the Chelikunta Canal once again. They are verifying the findings regarding the encroachment on nalas included in the report submitted by the HMDA. A great amount of leeway has been given to these construction sites; bore wells that have sucked our water bodies dry have been constructed,” said Mr Rajkumar Singh.
Officials have taken note of the alarming number of apartment complexes being constructed around the water bodies. “This is a clear case of encroachment on these water bodies. I filed a complaint with the National Green Tribunal in 2016. Water bodies end up getting severely polluted because of these apartments,” Mr Rajkumar Singh said.
The committee will file its final report on November 7. The officials say that with the increase in the number of residential buildings in the area, there has been a simultaneous increase in the number of restaurants as well. Together these constructions are leading to a severe deterioration in the quality of water.