HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court on Thursday responded to allegations that authorities neglected encroachments and illegal constructions around Errakunta Lake, despite complaints over the past three years. The court has ordered the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Authority (HYDRAA) and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) to provide updates on measures taken to safeguard the water body.
Justice B Vijaysen Reddy instructed both agencies to present their positions and announced an adjournment until July 16.
The petition was brought forward by advocate Vijay Gopal, representing himself. He argued that HYDRAA displayed selective enforcement, claiming significant recoveries of government land elsewhere while leaving Errakunta Lake in Lalaguda vulnerable to illegal activities.
Gopal stated that despite numerous complaints submitted through social media, email, and written formats during April 2023, August 2024, and May 2026, no action reports were given, and illegal constructions persisted.
As noted in the petition, Errakunta Lake was designated by HMDA in 2015. However, the authorities allegedly failed to halt encroachments and constructions within both full tank levels and buffer zones.
Gopal contended that HYDRAA had not fulfilled its statutory duty to protect public assets, despite having the authority to address violations.
He urged the court to direct the authorities to dismantle illegal structures, reclaim demolition costs from violators, and initiate prosecutions against responsible parties.
Additionally, he requested clarification from GHMC and HMDA regarding any land sales of the lake to private entities and the legality of such transactions.
Gopal emphasized that publicly accessible satellite images confirmed ongoing encroachments and referenced Supreme Court rulings asserting that lakes are public resources that cannot be regularized. He called for immediate action to prevent further ecological harm.
