Hydraa Orders Eviction From Mushkin Cheruvu FTL
Economically weaker sections are being used as “human shields” by encroachers to resist enforcement: Officials
HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has given a 10‑day deadline to residents of temporary shelters located within the Full Tank Level (FTL) of Mushkin Cheruvu in Narsingi, asking them to vacate.
Officials said economically weaker sections are being used as “human shields” by encroachers to resist enforcement. Encroachers have also been dumping debris and soil to alter the lake’s topography, with plans for large‑scale construction.
On Wednesday, HYDRAA officials visited the lake and informed residents that their shelters were obstructing development. “We are granting you a grace period of 10 days. We advise you to make alternative arrangements and vacate the FTL area,” they told the occupants.
HYDRAA additional director Varla Papayya, ACP P. Thirumal, Irrigation department deputy engineer Rama Devi, and Revenue officials inspected the site. They issued stern warnings to those exploiting the poor and expressed displeasure at encroachers who ignored repeated notices over the past six months.
Mushkin Cheruvu, spread across 52.20 acres of FTL, is surrounded by thousands of residences. Locals said the lake is being degraded by waste‑segregation units operating on adjacent plots. HMDA records show 34.20 acres fall within FTL limits, with 21 acres of Shikam (lake‑bed) classified as government land.
Despite earlier demolition of illegal compound walls, a major construction firm is reportedly preparing to fill parts of the lake with soil. Residents pointed out structures blocking floodwater inflow by closing drainage channels.
Locals welcomed HYDRAA’s intervention. “We thank HYDRAA for safeguarding this lake, which is a lifeline. We submitted complaints and evidence through the Prajavani programme,” a resident said.
