Jalbaikunta Lake’s FTL allegedly encroached by industrial unit, activist urges HYDRAA intervention
HYDERABAD: Jalbaikunta Lake’s Full Tank Level (FTL) in Ghatkesar has been encroached upon by a local industrial unit. Meanwhile, social activist Suresh Kumar Akkala has spent five years campaigning to protect and restore the water body. Recently, he requested that the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA) conduct a spot inspection, remove the alleged encroachments, and restore the lake and surrounding public amenities.
Suresh told HyderabadMail that Jalbaikunta Lake covers approximately 7 acres and is located behind the HMDA residential layout. He claimed that an Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) from the Irrigation Department confirmed the encroachment of about one acre of the lake’s FTL. In addition, Suresh alleged that the industrial unit carried out gravel filling on the encroached portion, citing the AEE as his source.
Moreover, Suresh alleged that the same industrial unit also encroached upon public infrastructure in HMDA layout, including parks and roads covering about 13,000 square yards of government land. He claimed the unit felled trees in one park and said he has documentary and photographic evidence to support these claims.
Suresh also accused local municipal authorities of inaction. According to him, after the municipal chairman submitted a formal complaint to the District Collector regarding the encroachments, the industrial unit donated a mechanical road-sweeping machine to the municipality. Following this, officials stopped responding to the complaints about encroachment.
Suresh said land-use problems around the lake go back 15 to 20 years, though he has been personally involved for about five years. Over time, the case has attracted political attention. For example, TRS leader K. Kavitha has spoken about it. Additionally, Suresh claimed that political parties, including BJP, Congress, and BRS, have received funding from business interests linked to the encroachments. He argued this has slowed accountability.
@nagaram_mcpl
ICCOM industry causing damage to environment by emitting carbon Powder and Causing diseases & inconvenience to public.Please shift to industrial zone.
Municipal Act 19 Sec 162@TelanganaPCB @Collector_MDL @chmallareddyMLA @CPCB_OFFICIAL @HiHyderabad @KarunaGopal1 pic.twitter.com/1EoyVFqnAJ— Suresh Kumar Akkala Netha (@SureshKumarAkk1) December 21, 2020
In addition, Suresh alleged that the industrial unit’s activities release particulate carbon dust into the surrounding area, especially during winter. He claimed that the Telangana State Pollution Control Board has not acted on complaints about air pollution. He also said the groundwater has been contaminated by acidic effluents from iron-processing, and raised concerns about lack of transparency from both the Pollution Control Board and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB).
