Hyderabad: Though the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has taken up the task of protecting lakes and formed a committee, the Suram Cheruvu, commonly known as Noorish Talab at Bandlaguda of the HMDA area, does not find a space in the lake protection list.
Despite complaints, ongoing construction work and landfills have not been stopped by the municipal body at 4001 Salkam.
A city-based lake-saving group visited Suram Cheruvu on Wednesday and said that as per HMDA website, the Full Tank Level map has a water spread area of 34.24 acres as on December 18, 2013. Its official water spread area is shown 19.80 hectares as on August 1, 2000.
Ms. Lubna Sarawath said, "Google satellite imagery taken in 2014 and 2016 depicts landfills and constructions inside the buffer zone and FTL as well as a huge hyacinth cover.
The visiting team saw two fencing, one done by HMDA marking the FTL level and another by unidentified persons inside the FTL.
"The official fencing would be removed later and the fence placed by encroachers will be considered the original fence. Thereby the land will be occupied. We urge the HMDA to restore the water body to its original maximum water spread, restore its inflow and outflow channels, and make it pollutant free," added Ms. Sarawath.
