Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has decided to monitor the process of demarcation and fixing of full tank level (FTLs) by the Lake Protection Committee (LPC) to around 3,532 lakes in the HMDA limits.
The court opined that the fixation of FTL should be completed as early as possible following the recent issues of encroachments in lakes. However, the HMDA has delayed it for more than 14 years.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J. Sreenivas Rao directed the Lake Protection Committee of HMDA to submit a comprehensive status report with details about the stage and status of the process of fixing the FTLs to the lakes.
Rejecting the HMDA’s request to grant three more months to complete the fixation of FTLs, the court directed the authorities to submit the status report by December 30, and explain the process of fixing the FTLs.
The bench was dealing with a suo motu writ petition taken up by the High Court on inordinate delay by HMDA in fixing FTL for 3,532 lakes.
The Lake Protection Committee (LPC) was constituted on April 6, 2010, to protect the lakes in the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) area. The committee was formed in compliance with the orders of the High Court. The LPC's functions include listing lakes in the HMDA area, demarcating Full Tank Level (FTL) areas, protecting FTL areas from encroachment, and raising awareness about lake protection.
However, after 14 years of its constitution, the LPC could not complete its tasks.
Earlier, during the hearing in another PIL related to encroachments in Rammama Kunta lake, the High Court on July 27, 2023, directed HMDA to fix the FTL and issue a final notification within a specific time period. However, the court’s orders were not complied with, and in July 2024, the court summoned HMDA commissioner. In subsequent hearings, Sarfaraz Ahmed, the then HMDA chief, submitted that the process will be completed within three months. However, nothing was done.
As the HMDA counsel sought three more months, the High Court decided to monitor the process of fixing the FTLs.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, the Government Pleader for General Administration informed the court that preliminary notifications have been issued for 2,846 lakes till today and final notification of FTLs have been issued for 530 lakes till Wednesday.
