Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Tuesday directed the Telangana state government, irrigation department principal secretary, GHMC and HMDA commissioners, and district collectors of Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Medchal Malkajgiri, Medak, Sanga Reddy, Siddipet, and Yadadri Bhuvanagiri Districts, to file a final report on protection of lakes in seven districts within eight weeks.
A division bench of Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice N. Tukaramji heard a PIL taken up based on a news report. The report revealed that a survey mirrored that the works to safeguard the 3,534 lakes in seven districts was progressing slowly even six years after it began. According to the report, not even 10 per cent of the work had been finished since revenue and irrigation were at odds over the full tank level (FTL) of these water bodies, resulting in their encroachment and consequent floods. The court issued specific directives in 2020.
After hearing to counsels in the PILs and writs, the court asked the authorities concerned to file a final report on lakes within eight weeks and adjourned the matter to August 14.
