Hyderabad: Three more acres of the Ramammakunta lake has fallen prey to concretisation with a four star hotel of 13 floors being constructed on the buffer zone of the lake. Worth Rs 60 crore, this three acre land falls in Survey No. 91, near the National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management of the AP Tourism Department in Gachibowli. Lake experts have alleged the involvement of the NITHM management and have asked the irrigation department to immediately mark the Full Tank Level (FTL) of the lake.
A PIL was filed by Thakur Rajkumar Singh of the Human Rights and Consumer Protection Cell, who alleged that NITHM authorities have been allowing construction of a four-star hotel by destroying the lake bed of the Ramammakunta lake.
The bench hearing the case had ordered the Ranga Reddy collector to inspect and submit a report on the lake. Dissatisfied with the collector’s incomplete report, it directed the Ranga Reddy district judge to visit the place and submit his observations. However, despite strict orders from the bench that no construction activity should be allowed at the lake till the matter is resolved, the hotel management has been continuing with it.
“The Ranga Reddy district judge’s report states that Maha Hotels, the stakeholder, got permission from the GHMC for only ground plus two floors, however, 13 floors have been constructed. As per HMDA’s rules, for high rise buildings, impact fee has to be levied, which has not been paid. And this is on the buffer zone of the lake,” Mr Rajkumar Singh said.
He also said that a body called the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Technical Consultancy Organisation was established as a bidder to work in the favour of NITHM and went into an agreement with Maha hotels. “Tender rules were framed in such a way that they were in favour of Maha Hotels. Six other hospitality groups also purchased the tender documents but only Maha Hotels got the tender,” he added.
The owner of the hotel management has now filed an implead petition in the case saying that he wanted to be a party and wants the court to hear his version.
