Hyderabad, Jan. 2
The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) on Thursday submitted to the Telangana High Court that final notifications have been issued for fixing full tank level (FTL) for 765 lakes by January 1, 2025. There are 3,342 lakes under the HMDA limits.
Stating that the fixing FTL is under way, the HMDA stated that it required more time to issue the final notifications to all lakes as it involves a lengthy process which involves field inspections, primary notifications followed by public hearing and final notifications.
However, the Division Bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J. Sreenivas Rao directed the HMDA to submit a report by February 4 explaining the progress achieved in the last two months on the issuance of final notifications.
On October 31, 2024, the High Court had directed HMDA to submit the status report on the issuance of final notifications of FTLs in the HMDA limits.
The Bench was hearing a suo motu PIL on fixing FTL for water bodies situated within the territorial limits of HMDA.
Following the court orders on Thursday, Pottigari Sridhar Reddy, Special Government Pleader, submitted an additional status report filed on behalf of the HMDA, which stated that preliminary notification has been issued in respect of 2,793 lakes and final notification was issued for 708 lakes. After filing of the affidavit, final notification has been issued for 57 more lakes. He requested the court grant more time to submit the status of issuing final notifications to other lakes. The court gave one more month for HMDA to furnish the details,without fail.
