Hyderabad: Fifteen graves have come up on the Ibrahimpatnam lake bed at Rajendranagar mandal and there is a move to build a concrete compound wall. The gram panchayat ignored the first grave when it was erected. Currently, it is cemented.
Mr Sunil Chakravarthy, a volunteer of Rally for Rivers, told this newspaper, “Our team did identify the graves. The matter has been reported to the gram panchayat. Thou-gh it is impossible to remove the cemented graves, the authorities can block future structures. Fifteen burial structures have been built in the water spread area, and not in the buffer zone. In case of heavy rains, graves will be submerged in the lake.”
The HMDA washed off its hands on the lake is under the jurisdiction of the gram panchayat. The Telangana government is reviving lakes through ‘Mana Ooru, Mana Cheruvu’ (our village, our lakes) programme. However, ur-ban and rural lakes are in a deplorable condition.
Besides, the Ibrahimpatam Lake also has other environmental issues. Toxic wastes from nearby colonies are being released into Pedda Cheruvu, commonly known as Ibrahim cheruvu, choking it with foam. Pedda Cheruvu is spread over 80 acres and is situated opposite Taramati Badari. The lake is in the downstream of Durgam Cheruvu in Madhapur and flows into the Musi river.
“Ibrahim Cheruvu has been frothing for a year now. It was once rich in biodiversity with several species of birds and plants. The lake water contains high amounts of phosphate and nitrate. This is dangerous to the lake and birds and animals,” Madhu-lika Choudhary told Deccan Chronicle.
