Hyderabad: Alleged encroachers have dumped mud foreshores of Annarayuni Cheruvu of Nagaram as the first step to begin illegal constructions.
Locals said that when they questioned them, the encroachers claimed they had obtained permission from the HMDA. Residents alleged that they took the issue to the notice of officials who took no action.
The encroachers allegedly obtained a fake document to encroach on the lake.
The issue came to light when on Venkat Bogi, who stays in the vicinity of the lake, posted a complaint on his Twitter handle. TRS working president K.T. Rama Rao instructed the HMDA to look into the issue and take immediate action on the encroachers. When asked about the issue, a senior HMDA official said ground staff had inspected the spot on Thursday and would fence the lake to prevent future encroachment. He said the HMDA had not accorded any permission to encroach the lake and would initiate stringent action on the encroachers.
Asked about the delay in fencing the lakes, the official said the staff was busy with rectifying errors in the integrated master plan. Besides there was a fund crunch which was delaying the exercise.
The HMDA has not been taking against the encroachment of several lakes, Despite issuing preliminary notification to fence 1,512 lakes and final notification for 152, the HMDA has not fenced even 10. Several lakes which shrank during the dry season have now been encroached.
