HC: Take stock of Nirmal lakes
The Telangana High Court has expressed worry over the state executive remaining passive towards protecting water bodies within TS from encroachments or being turned into dump yards. The court wanted district collectors to pay attention towards retaining water bodies as they are.
These observations were made by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy while directing Nirmal collector to visit all lakes under the district’s jurisdiction, inspect them and find out if any of them are being encroached by filling them with sand or construction material. If such a thing is happening, the collector must initiate stringent action against encroachers and submit a cogent and cohesive report to the court before September 10.
The bench was hearing public interest litigation filed by K. Anju Kumar Reddy seeking a direction to Nirmal district authorities that they protect Jafur Cheruvu, Kurranapet Cheruvu and Kothaikotch cheruvu tanks in the district from illegal encroachments. Counsel for petitioner Chinnola Naresh Reddy informed the bench that miscreants have encroached nearly eight lakes in Nirmal district. They have also started constructions on encroached lands without obtaining any permission from Nirmal municipality.
On the High Court’s directive Nirmal municipal commissioner and Irrigation Department executive engineer furnished a report on the lakes mentioned. The court opined that these reports are deficient and misleading with false information. The bench asked the commissioner to inform whether or not any construction has taken place on lake areas without obtaining permission. The commissioner maintained a steady silence on this and also further queries from court whether the said lake had been filled up with rubble.
The High Court then directed additional district judge, Nirmal, to personally visit the site and submit a factual ground report in case any part of the lake has been filled with rubble and whether or not any illegal constructions have come up on the land. The court also wanted the district judge to find out from chief engineer and superintendent engineer, Irrigation, Nirmal, the exact extent of the lake’s full tank level area and alleged encroachments on the FTL.
Further, the division bench directed Nirmal collector to visit all lakes falling within the district and also ensure that their FTL, including the buffer zone, is discovered, clearly demarcated and fenced.