Tahsildar's suspension mere eyewash: Sarwath

Hyderabad: Responding to Tahsildar's suspension for his alleged inaction against encroachment of a lake in Asif Nagar, green activists held that without proper restoration of the lake, this would be completely considered an eyewash. The department may have initiated action, but no action was initiated by the authorities concerned to change the ground situation.

Speaking to The Hans India, Dr Lubna Sarwath, ex-convener SOUL (Save Our Urban Lakes) who raised alarm alleging encroachment of the Devuni Kunat lake about a month ago, described the suspension of an official from the revenue department as nothing less than an eye-wash, as nothing concrete 'on ground' was during the last one month, despite promises from the higher officials like Joint Collector.

"We have been representing the matter for several days, but this action of suspending an official has not cleared the air of doubt over future of the water body. Higher-ups like Collector remain out of bounds and inaccessible to speak to get a clear picture, as to what the department's next step would be," she said.

While questioning the commitment in restoring the lake, she said that if the authorities were serious enough, they would have strongly contested the claims of the private individuals over the lake in High Court. "Suspension of official is secondary, the restoration of lakes should be primary thing the Collectorate should have done," she added.

The Congress leader, Osman Al Hajri who along with CPI leaders also took up the issue also expressed similar views as 'suspension order' could be an attempt to dilute the issue. "How can water bodies be a private land, the department's concerned should clear the air of doubt over its action on official and inaction on the ground," he said.

On July 22, suspension orders of V Ravi Kumar, Tahsildar (Asifnagar) were issued in view of High Court's observation which pointed out that there was 'inconsistency' in the stand of the Tahsildar, as to the status of the land. "On the one hand, he says that it is a temple land and on the other hand he says that it is a surplus land," the Court noted.

It may be mentioned here that The Hans India, ran a series of stories over the Devuni kunta issue in June. On Tuesday, CPI(M) demanded that the State government take necessary measures to protect Devuni Kunta tank, from encroachments.

The party secretary M Srinivas said the party has demanded that the government take action against the revenue officials who were involved in the encroachment of Devuni Kunta lands. "The District Collector has issued orders suspending local Tahasildar on Monday, he said. However, no action was taken against the persons who were involved in the encroachments and kingpins behind it, he lamented.