Court moves in to save Hussainsagar

By Our Legal Correspondent

HYDERABAD, DEC. 29. A Division Bench of the A.P. High Court, comprising the Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Satyabrata Sinha, and Mr. Justice B. Subhashan Reddy, admitted a writ petition filed challenging the action of the State Government in initiating steps to launch projects around the Hussainsagar lake and ordered status quo to be maintained regarding the water body.

The Bench was dealing with a writ petition filed by the Forum for a Better Hyderabad, represented by its chairman, Captain J. Rama Rao, and Samata, a voluntary body, represented by its executive director, Mr. Ravi Rebbapregada. The petitioners said that by announcing projects the water body is put to encroachments. They informed the court that the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority issued a notification in May this year and declared that the water body as per the GSI maps must be kept away from any encroachments.

The petitioners further brought to the notice of the court that the master plan and zonal regulations regarding the land usage as declared by HUDA show the area around the lake as `recreation zone' which must be kept away from all constructions for commercial or residential purposes. The proposed projects violate all these, they complained. The petitioners further said that such large-scale projects could be cleared only after a public hearing and Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) clearance.

The petitioners also said the authorities were using poclains and filling the lake. They contended that the flashfloods which have devastated the city recently were the result of shrinkage of lake. The petitioners also submitted a certificate issued by the HUDA which showed that the part of land meant for the projects is in fact a `water body'. The Bench posted the matter for hearing to February third week.

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Section  : Southern States
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