Encroachment of years cleared from Durgam Cheruvu

Brazen encroachment into the full tank level (FTL) of Durgam Cheruvu, reported by The Hindu more than two years ago, was finally taken note of by the authorities, and action was initiated on Tuesday by the Hyderabad Disaster Response & Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA).

HYDRAA forces have cleared encroachments to the extent of five acres from the lake’s FTL and fenced off the area, a statement informed.

The encroachment began about three years ago, and extended from one acre to five acres gradually, with no action taken despite news reports about the same. Officials under the condition of anonymity had claimed that there was a case pending against the government’s attempts to lay a road through the site, which was why no action was possible. However, no attempts were made to restrain the person trying to encroach it further.

The lake was filled with soil and debris 10-15 metres inside, and the area was being used for renting out as parking space for school buses and vehicles of IT firms. A public representative is behind the encroachment, who is claiming it to be his own land, the statement from HYDRAA said. However, the same land has been increasing in extent year on year, owning to further encroachment into the lake.

The illegal occupation is also hindering the work to lay a walking track around the lake, the statement said. HMDA issued preliminary notification for the lake in 2014 in which the extent was mentioned as 160.7 acres. HYDRAA will pore over NRSC, Survey of India and Revenue department records to ascertain the actual extent, the statement said.

Satellite images show that 29 acres of the lake were filled in by 1976, and after 1995 up to 2000, 10 more acres were encroached, leaving only 121 acres of FTL for the lake. As of now, the lake exists only in 116 acres, the statement said.

HYDRAA chief A.V. Ranganath said boulders were dumped into the lake in the attempt to fill it up, and clearing the same would be an expensive task.