Hyderabad: Despite being in intense public focus, land sharks have encroached upon a quarter of the Durgam Cheruvu in about 15 years.
Before the year 2000, the lake covered 160 acres. On August 15, 2015, an Assembly Estimates Committee headed by Mr S. Ramalinga Reddy found that 35 acres of the lake had been encroached upon. The owners of a few structures approached courts against the government demolishing their houses.
Officials from the GHMC, HMDA and the irrigation department briefed the committee about the encroachments which had been identified, and court cases filed against the government.
The committee identified encroachments at Amar Cooperative Housing Society, Kavuri Hills, Kalyannagar, Brindavan Colony, Nectar Garden and Gafoornagar. All these colonies were inundated during heavy rains and floods in year 2000.
Following the floods that year, the then government directed the irrigation department to re-mark the full tank level of the lake. Based on these markings, the then HUDA (presently HMDA) cancelled all the layouts within the FTL.
Owners of plots and builders moved the court and secured a status quo order on September 25, 2001. On Wednesday last, the GHMC took up a few demolitions and officials said that the drive would continue based on the reports given by the revenue and irrigation departments.
The Durgam Cheruvu was built between 1518-1687 by the Qutbshahi kings over 160.6 acres. The lake used to supply drinking water to Golconda fort and nearby localities. As the lake was nestled between Jubilee Hills and Madhapur, it was called Secret Lake.
