TS HC asks GHMC to protect Ramanthapur pedda cheruvu from encroachments

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Wednesday directed GHMC to intensify efforts and protect Ramanthapur pedda cheruvu in Uppal from encroachments and prevent it from ending up as a dump yard.

The court issued directives to the civic body on the steps it had to take to protect the water body and appraise it by October 10.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice N.V.
Shravan Kumar, was hearing a petition taken up by the court in 2005 relating to encroachments of the lake that is spread over 26 acres. In 2005, a letter was addressed to the High Court about encroachments in the buffer zone of the lake. This was taken as a petition by the court, which sought a response from the then Uppal municipality, revenue authorities and others. They filed counter affidavits and the issue has been pending ever since.

On Wednesday, the Chief Justice, anguished over the inaction of the civic authorities, observed that lakes situated in urban areas are part of eco-heritage, which had to be protected.

The bench directed GHMC to immediately remove all encroachments in the buffer zone of the water body and desilt the lake in order to increase its water holding capacity and fence the entire lake area. The court also directed the sanitation wing of GHMC to ensure that no drainage or effluents will flow into the water body.

The GHMC counsel was asked to appraise the court on the proposed plan of action and the time required to comply with the directions, including fencing.