Hyderabad: Localities surrounding Hasmathpet tank, or Boini cheruvu, could face the fate of Bandari layout, from where people had to be evacuated following floods, if the government keeps on turning a blind eye to several complaints lodged regarding various societies, committees and the public for half a decade.
The tank, which once extended about 68 acres, including shikam/full tank level land, has now shrunk to 18 acres due to encroachments and illegal layouts.
Recently, a layout was developed behind the Manasa Sarovar Heights by occupying nearly 2.5 acres of the lake.
On January 12, 2016, the NGO Save Our Urban Lakes along with several organisations, including the welfare association of Manasa Sarovar Heights, wrote a letter to the OSD to irrigation minister Sridhar Deshpande on the matter.
Mr Deshpande said the Hasmathpet lake was overseen by the HMDA. The irrigation department forwarded the letter nine months ago along with an earlier report submitted by the special grade deputy collector of land protection wing of Ranga Reddy district to the HMDA. There has been no response.
In 2012, the special grade deputy collector had submitted a report of his investigation (Lr.No.LP1/3334/2012) to the executive engineer, irrigation department, and sought help of the assistant director to survey land records to demarcate boundaries for the lake.
The officer said in his report that a two-acre parcel of land on the west bank of the lake was occupied by unidentified persons, who filled the tank with soil. At another portion, the owner of a function hall encroached nearly 1.5 acres of the lake.
As the Telangana statehood movement was at its peak the, officials put the file on hold. As the government officials remained silent on the matter for four years, encroachments have increased.
Manasa Sarovar Heights’ welfare association secretary Usha said they would launch a protest to protect the lake.
Hasmathpet nala is also shrinking
The Hasmathpet nala connecting the Alwal tank to Hasmathpet lake has been encroached upon repeatedly in the last two decades.
As per government records, four decades ago, the nala was 150-ft wide and a buffer zone of 25 ft on either side was meant for greenery.
As per the engineering of the nala, whenever tanks upstream at Alwal overflow, the excess water flows to Hasmathpet tank. The nala has now shrunk to 30 ft, and, at a few stretches in the Cantonment, to 8-10 ft. Many high-rises have come up on the nala land.
With the nala having narrowed down, many localities in the catchment get inundated during heavy rain, with low-lying areas in Alwal, Cantonment, Bowenpally and Balanagar being the worst affected.
The nala near Manasa Sarovar Heights flows in a small roof drain, leading to road blockades often.
