Activists question construction of concrete immersion zones on Malkam Cheruvu

Raidurgam: GHMC admits before High Court at Hyderabad that 3.25 acresof MalkamCheruvuhas been affected due to GHMC and Aparna constructions in the name of beautification of lakes. The entire lakes here in Hyderabad, are precious treasure of heritage whichcan’t be looted from public. Huge constructions inside the MalkamCheruvu by GHMC in the name of restoration and development of lake has been taking place brazenly. For Ganesh immersion GHMC is concretising lake area including inflow channels thus stopping rain water to enter into the lake.  

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Superintending Engineer, Hyderabad Lakes & Water Bodies Management Circle stated that 0.61 acres were affected due to immersion pond, 0.05 acres due to access control gate in front of Ganesh immersion pond and 2.59 acres due to Peripheral Ring bund around the lake. Counsels for the MalkamCheruvu, Advocate Anjana Reddy & Advocate Sameer Ahmad pointed out GO 33 of 2013, where no construction can be undertaken in a water body or its buffer zone. Acting Chief Justice said that construction inside the lake is against law. 

GHMC contended that petitioner's apartments were inside buffer zone; Judge ordered GHMC to file an affidavit with measurements along with details of constructions done and next plan of construction inside the lake. SOUL expects that GHMC to dismantle the immersion ponds in MalkamCheruvu and all the lakes of Hyderabad and comply with the Central Pollution Control Board guidelines that mandate immersion points and not concretized immersion ponds.  Immersion ponds are illegal and against the set environmental guidelines.

Pull down the illegal constructions inside the Malkamcheruvu in the name of entrance plaza.  Dr LubnaSarwath of Save Our Urban Lakes (SOUL), said that, “Acting Chief Justice at Hyderabad Court heard the matter on April 6 and ordered that there shall be no constructions in the MalkamCheruvu and that all existing constructions have to be stayed.  We trust your legal teams have updated you with this information. Instead of moving towards a policy and concrete action towards naturalization of our precious heritage water bodies in terms of stopping pollution, improving the water quality and securing the lake shores, the water bodies are being filled and cemented through CSR. 

Leave alone the cycle rides, an innocent public of Hyderabad are being taken for a ride. Every bit of Durgam and MalkamCheruvus and so many lakes of Hyderabad are a precious treasure of heritage, not commodities out there for distribution to corporate under CSR and to be ticketed and looted from the public. We expect you to honour the High Court Order, Law of the land and Petitioner/public sentiment on the reclaiming of maximum water spread of Malkam Cheruvu, Lubna added.”

BY Mohammed Hussain