Hyderabad: While the Supreme Court has ruled that part of the area on which the massive Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station was built is a private property, environmentalists claim that constructing the terminal on Imlibun Island in the first place was in clear violation of the River Conservation Act and is a future environmental concern.
The MGBS — one of the largest bus terminals in the country — was constructed in 1994 by the APSRTC on around 18 acres of land on Imlibun Island — which is surrounded by the Musi River on all sides. It was leased by GHMC for 99 years. The recent master plan for improvement of storm water drains drafted by GHMC mentions: “It is interesting to note that Musi is for the city and the Interstate Bus Terminal is located on an island in this river.”
Executive director of TSRTC Hyderabad zone D. Venu said, “GHMC has leased the land to us. Recently, a private party went to the Supreme Court and won the case stating part of this area and that of Imlibun Park was his land. We are in talks with him to resolve the issue. The bus terminal is built on around 3.5 acre of land that the court had settled to be that of the private party.”
The “Mississippi” hangar was constructed in 1953 by the Nizam State Road Transport department a few metres from the Musi, allowing a sufficient buffer zone. After the construction of MGBS at Imlibun, the entire Central Bus Station was shifted there.
Environmentalist Devidas Manganani said, “Though we can do little regarding MGBS, at least in future the government should avoid islands and river buffer zones.”
Ms Lubna Sarwath of SOUL said, “The river buffer zone in urban limits has been lifted in 2015 and that outside urban areas for Musi has been decreased with a GO. This will have a devastating effect on Musi. They are also building a metro station on the river and pillars are being raised.”
Ultimate disposal points of flood water in Hyderabad like the Musi River, Hussain Sagar, Pedda Amberpet Cheruvu, Saroornagar Cheruvu, Nakka Vagu and Nagaram Cheruvu are all shrunk and encroached.
