HYDERABAD: The ongoing drive against illegal structures at FTL and buffer zones of lakes has resulted in seven FIRs being registered against alleged encroachers and errant officials in various parts of Hyderabad. The cases were filed based on complaints filed by Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Monitoring and Protection Agency (HYDRAA) and irrigation department officials.
Among those on whom cases were registered include former MLA Katasani Rambhoopal Reddy as well as well-known builders and govt officials from irrigation and revenue departments.
On Aug 6, Suraram police registered a case following a complaint from the irrigation department. Ratnakaram Sai Raju, a resident of Gajularamaram, allegedly constructed unauthorised structures on govt land in survey No. 329 and the FTL and buffer zone of Chinthala Cheruvu.
Officials found 12 such illegal structures in the buffer zone and an additional 40 illegal constructions were identified in survey No. 329/1. The charges against Raju include criminal trespass, mischief, cheating and damage to public property.
Bachupally police registered a case on Aug 20 based on a complaint from the irrigation department against Maps Infra, represented by its managing partner P Sudhakar Reddy. In the complaint, the irrigation officials alleged illegal construction in the FTL of Errakunta in Nizampet in Bachupally.
Although Maps Infra provided permission copies for constructions in survey Nos. 48 and 49, an inspection revealed violations in survey No. 134 with structures encroaching upon govt land. HYDRAA demolished the illegal constructions, which had been falsely authorised.
In another instance, Dundigal police registered a case on Aug 10 following a complaint from the irrigation officials. The case pertained to the illegal construction of villas in survey No. 170/4 of Mallampet village where Lakshmi Srinivasa Constructions had allegedly encroached on the FTL and buffer zone of Katwa Cheruvu. The illegal dumping of construction debris and unauthorised road formation within the lake’s FTL had severely reduced the water body’s capacity, the officials alleged.
Another FIR was filed by Miyapur police in connection with unauthorised constructions in the buffer zone of Erla Cheruvu in Vaishali Nagar, Madinaguda.
The properties owned by D Swarnalatha and D Krishna Kishore in survey No. 25 were found in violation of buffer zone regulations, leading to their demolition.
HYDRAA filed a complaint on Aug 30 against officials responsible for facilitating illegal constructions in the buffer zone of Errakunta in Pragathi Nagar under Nizampet Municipal Corporation’s jurisdiction. Errakunta pond, which covers 3.033 acres, is govt property.
However, illegal constructions were permitted based on incorrect geo-co-ordinates. Municipal commissioner of Nizampet and other officials were accused of negligence and altering co-ordinates to benefit the encroachers. Telangana high court allowed the constructions to proceed provided they do not interfere with FTL identification. Despite this, HYDRAA demolished the illegal structures on Aug 15.
Several govt officials have been identified as complicit in these illegal activities.
