Telangana HC orders immediate protection of 13 lakes

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Tuesday issued directions to save 13 lakes in Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts from extinction.

A bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti was hearing a plea by Anil C Dayakar, representing NGO Gamana, highlighting the alarming degradation of these water bodies due to pollution and encroachment.
The court had earlier tasked a committee comprising lawyers G Praveen Kumar and T Srikanth Reddy to inspect the lakes and submit a report detailing the extent of pollution, illegal construction and encroachment.

Reviewing the report filed on March 16, Justice Aradhe expressed deep concern over the deteriorating condition of the lakes. He said the pollution not only creates environmental hazards but also endangers public health as people are using the contaminated lake water for cultivating vegetables.
Justice Aradhe said he was particularly distressed that residents near Nalla Cheruvu in Uppal were using contaminated water to grow vegetables. The court directed Additional Advocate General Imran Khan to direct the authorities to stop such practices immediately.

Justice Aradhe also regretted the loss of natural habitats of various flora and fauna due to rising pollution levels in the lakes. He said that dumping debris and garbage into water bodies accelerates the extinction of these habitats.
The lakes mentioned in the petition include Durgam Cheruvu, Sunnam Cheruvu, Pedda Cheruvu Peerzadiguda, China Dhamara Cheruvu Dundigal, China Rayuni Cheruvu, Ganga Ram Pedda Cheruvu, Medicunta Cheruvu near Sri Ranganatha Temple Nanakramguda, Nalla Cheruvu Uppal, Hashmatpet Cheruvu, Bairamalguda Cheruvu LB Nagar. Are. , Peerzadiguda Cheruvu Uppal Panchayat, Nallagandla Cheruvu Serilingampally, Ambir Cheruvu in Dundigal Mandal and Golidodda Cheruvu in Serilingampally Municipality.

The committee report highlighted various issues associated with these lakes, including lack of fencing, absence of lake guards, inadequate surveillance without CCTV cameras, untreated sewage flows and encroachment on the full tank level area.
In response, the bench directed the state government to take immediate remedial action to prevent pollution and degradation of the lakes.