Hyderabad: The Telangana high court on Wednesday took potshots at HYDRAA and questioned why the agency was not addressing constructions in elite areas while aggressively demolishing structures belonging to the poor and marginalised in the name of preserving lakes and protecting govt lands. “Do the same laws not apply to the rich and elite?” the high court questioned.
“Just by carrying out demolitions in slums and such areas and making publicity through the media does not serve any public good. It serves the purpose only when you act on the illegal properties owned by the rich around Durgam Cheruvu and Miyapur lakes,” said Justice CV Bhaskar Reddy, while dealing with a writ petition challenging the notices issued by the Rajendra Nagar tahsildar in connection with illegal constructions encroaching upon Miralam Tank.
The court, however, allowed the authorities to first conduct a joint survey of the lake and take action as per the law if any encroachments were found.
Justice Bhaskar Reddy further observed that Hyderabad, known as the city of lakes, has reduced to less than 180 lakes from 2,200 during the Nizam era. Going by history, the measures taken up by the Nizams for the conservation of lakes were good, and he also noted that the Nizam brought a special law for the same, given the fact that it is difficult to preserve lakes with the Revenue Act.
Justice Bhaskar Reddy also directed the irrigation and revenue departments to conduct a joint survey of the land in question at the Miralam Tank. If the land is found to be govt land, authorities can take action as per the Revenue and WALTA Acts. If the land is found to be Wakf land, the responsibility of clearing encroachments should be left to the Wakf Board, said the court, and disposed of the petition.