HYDRAA fences Mella Cheruvu FTL in Tellapur
Hyderabad: HYDRAA has fenced the full tank level (FTL) area of Mella Cheruvu in Tellapur, under Ramachandrapuram mandal of Sangareddy district, to prevent further dumping of soil.
The 108 acre lake had seen extensive soil filling, sharply reducing its water-holding capacity, residents told HYDRAA’s Prajavani grievance forum. They also complained that obstructions were erected at multiple inlets, blocking floodwater from entering the lake.
Medak MP M. Raghunandan Rao submitted a written representation to the HYDRAA commissioner, following which Commissioner A.V. Ranganath ordered a field inspection.
A joint inspection with line departments found that the lake bed had been filled with soil brought in by thousands of lorry loads, along with boulders. Officials said more than half of the lake area meant to span 108 acres had been filled.
HYDRAA took serious note of the violation, pointing out that while cultivation is permitted within the FTL area, altering the land’s nature by dumping soil is prohibited. The agency also treated the raising of ground levels and construction of blocking walls to stop inflows as a grave violation.
On Friday morning, HYDRAA removed the obstructions. It then erected fencing across nearly 40 acres falling within the FTL to prevent further dumping. The work was completed by afternoon.
Officials said the fencing was planned to ensure agricultural activities were not disrupted, and that the measures were limited to stopping soil dumping alone.
