Hyderabad: HYDRAA commissioner A.V. Ranganath on Saturday claimed that the existence of Bathukammakunta in Amberpet as a lake was backed with historical, documentary and satellite evidence. Government records, maps and satellite imagery from as early as 1975 clearly showed the lake.
Addressing the media on Saturday, Ranganath showed irrigation documents, along with the municipal records from Amberpet from 1975, that described Bathukammakunta as a lake.
“According to revenue and GHMC records, the lake spreads across 9 acres and 19 guntas, existing on Survey No 563/1. The adjoining bund, recorded as ‘Masan Katta’, exists on Survey No. 563/2 over six guntas”, Ranganath said.
“The court has asked the other party to prove his ownership, and he has nothing but an unregistered sale agreement. Using that document, he claims ownership of that land. He does not have a sale deed, and the court has previously declared that he has no ownership rights. But they appealed to the High Court, where the case is being heard,” Ranganath explained.
HYDRAA has showcased Survey of India maps generated in 1971, which showed the area as a water body. It also provided satellite pictures captured by National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (Nasa) Landsat programme in 1989, which also showed a water body. “It is a clear indication that the lake is a water body which was not a small pond as the other party has claimed,” Ranganath said.
Ranganath added that following the contempt orders by the High Court and the orders of the Supreme Court, that no party should claim ownership of the land until the final verdict, the agency had removed the gates and boards installed at the site.
On not removing the fencing around the lake’s bund, he said it could cause structural risks and pose safety risks. He said that HYDRAA had informed the Supreme Court about this, and stated that the court asked the agency to file an affidavit within three weeks.
Speaking about the Fathima College in Chandrayangutta, centre of a controversy over alleged encroachment of land of the Sunnam Cheruvu, Ranganath said: “The High Court has directed the revenue and irrigation departments to conduct a joint survey to demarcate the FTL and identify any unauthorised structures within the lake’s FTL and buffer zones, and submit a report to the court. The report will be published by the Lake Protection Committee. We will take action based on the court’s directions.”
Ranganath stressed that lakes were public assets and could not be treated as private property, regardless of ownership claims. He said limited farming may be allowed when water levels recede, but the basic nature of a lake must not be altered and no structures should be raised, even on a patta land.
Speaking about the enforcement activities, Ranganath said “So far, we have reclaimed 2,093 acres of land, including 296.12 acres within lake’s full tank level (FTL) limits, 24.05 acres near and over drain lines, and over 1,600 acres of government land. The total value of the recovered land is estimated at around `80,000 crores on average. Over 90 cases have been registered.”
Speaking about taking action against officials who gave wrongful permissions to illegal builders or those who allow constructions to take place without permissions, Ranganath said, “We have sent nearly 40-50 reports about officials who gave encroachers free reign. The courts have also ordered inquiries on revenue and irrigation officials. Once they gather sufficient information, the authorities will be held responsible.”
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