- Eminent environmentalist Lubna Sarwat alleges at the press conference
- Structures constructed on tanks and nalas at Puppalguda
- Many wonder as to how TSIIC permitted it?
Does it make sense to fill tanks and lakes with soil and destroy them completely to build apartments and multi-storied buildings? Since last few decades, the roads of the city are getting waterlogged due to the increasing encroachment of tanks and nalas. This is also choking the drainage system and the nalas are overflowing. Environmentalists warn that if the tanks and storm water drains are blocked, the groundwater levels will deplete and Hyderabad metropolitan will suffer from water shortage before turning into a ghost city in the future.
In a recent press conference, Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI) water resources president Lubna Sarwat alleged that Phoenix Estates, a construction company, has completely destroyed the Mansanikunta and Mekasanikunta tanks to take up construction work in survey numbers 285 and 286 of Puppalguda of Rangareddy district as well as constructed cellar parking on Bulkapur nala. She reminded that in fact, till 2019, there were tanks and a Kattamaisamma temple in the locality.
How could TSIIC allow constructions?
Lubna Sarwat questioned the TSIIC on what basis permission was granted to the Phoenix company to construct high rise on the Mansanikunta, Mekasanikunta and Bulkapur canals. She recalled that when she complained about the encroachment in September 2019, the TSIIC officials themselves took her and other complainants to the site and opened the inflow and outflow channels using JCBs (earthmovers). Though they were requested to restore the entire canal and connect it to Balkapur nala, no such action was initiated. By January 7, 2020, the canal was closed again and a huge structure was built encroaching it. Though the TSIIC officials were informed about it, there has been no action prompting Lubna Sarwat and others to approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in February 2020.
The environmental activist demanded to know on what basis the local bodies issued permissions to the developers, when cases were pending in the courts on the issue. “It is a terrible thing to block the natural flow of water by closing the tanks and nalas. What is the point of supplying water from 100-200 km distance by ignoring the naturally available water resources?” she asked. She warned that if this continues, there is a danger that the underground water will deplete and the city of Hyderabad will become a ghost city in the coming days. She said that the Phoenix boards have been now replaced with those of another company in the recent times, but the construction was on.
Destruction of nature?
Hyderabad’s tanks and canals are disappearing one after the other. By filling them and encroaching upon them illegally, some developers were carrying out constructions. Hence, even if there is a little rain, all the arterial roads are turning into rivulets and water is flooding the residential colonies. As a result, there is a risk of loss of life as well as loss of property. Spread over seven districts, Hyderabad once had 30,000 water bodies. But there are only 185 under GHMC at present. And no body has the right to destroy nature for their personal gains.
