Certificates on maintenance of lakes mandatory for builders: HMDA

Hyderabad: The HMDA has been directed to hand over the beautification and development of lakes to builders.

Following the instructions of minister K.T. Rama Rao, special chief secretary Arvind Kumar said it is mandatory for builders who have applied for permission for layouts, gated communities, multistorey buildings, commercial complexes and others to take up the maintenance of lakes and waterbodies which spread up to 500 metres in their vicinity.

Kumar said that it is mandatory for builders taking up projects in the GHMC and HMDA jurisdiction to have a lake maintenance certificate in order to obtain building or layout permission. He said that this decision was taken to protect smaller waterbodies which have been rapidly disappearing. The agencies or persons should also ensure the stoppage of sewer flow into the lakes.