Telangana News: High Court asks GHMC to take additional steps to protect Katta Maisamma Cheruvu

HYDERABAD. Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Monday directed the GHMC to protect Katta Maisamma Cheruvu at Suraram village in Quthbullapur mandal of Medchal-Malkajgiri district from encroachment. Hearing a PIL filed by S Malleswara Rao seeking action against the authorities’ failure to protect the original boundary of the lake, a bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti directed the GHMC to ensure that there is no encroachment within the full tank level (FTL) and buffer zone of the lake.

The bench also directed the GHMC to maintain the tank bund through partnerships with organisations under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative and explore the possibility of setting up a walkway on the dam side. Additionally, the GHMC was tasked to prevent dumping of garbage in both the FTL and buffer zone areas. The authorities were ordered to file a status report on the lake within three months before the registry,

following which the PIL was disposed of. Earlier, following the high court’s directions, the GHMC submitted a report detailing the current status of the Katta Maisamma tank area. According to the report, the lake area is spread over 16.96 acres, and the buffer zone is spread over 2.12 acres. The GHMC also said that chain-link fencing has been erected around the lake area, and there is no encroachment around the lake and the buffer zone.

After reviewing the report submitted by the GHMC officials, the bench issued several additional directions.