The Telangana High Court has directed the Lake Protection Committee of HMDA to clarify the actual extent of Ramanthapur Pedda Cheruvu in Uppal Mandal, Medchal district, questioning whether the lake spans 17.26 acres or 30 acres. The court has ordered the publication of the final Full Tank Level (FTL) notification within three weeks, considering objections from local residents to a preliminary notification issued in October 2023. The Division Bench, headed by Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J. Sreenivas Rao, emphasized the need for thorough stakeholder engagement before finalizing the FTL. Petitioners argued that the lake has been encroached upon, degraded by sewage inflows and dumping, and requires urgent desilting. Additionally, the GHMC has been tasked with fencing the lake within six months. The court’s directive follows a 2005 PIL concerning the lake’s preservation, amid ongoing legal challenges regarding the lake’s accurate demarcation and protection from further degradation.
Telangana High Court Directs HMDA Lake Protection Committee to Clarify Extent of Ramanthapur Pedda Cheruvu
The Telangana High Court has recently intervened in a critical issue surrounding the Ramanthapur Pedda Cheruvu, a significant water body situated in Uppal Mandal, Medchal district. The court has directed the Lake Protection Committee of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) and relevant state departments to provide a definitive clarification on the precise extent of the lake. At the heart of the issue is whether the lake spans 17.26 acres or approximately 30 acres—a discrepancy that has fueled public concern and legal scrutiny over the preservation and demarcation of the lake.
This judicial intervention is the latest development in a long-standing legal battle concerning the degradation and potential encroachment of the Ramanthapur Pedda Cheruvu, a battle that began nearly two decades ago with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in 2005. The High Court, under the stewardship of a Division Bench led by Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J. Sreenivas Rao, has mandated that a final notification on the Full Tank Level (FTL) of the lake must be issued within three weeks. The court’s directive further stipulates that local residents’ objections to a preliminary FTL notification, issued in October 2023, must be duly considered before the finalization of any notification.
The Controversy: Lake Area Discrepancy
The crux of the legal and environmental dispute hinges on the conflicting reports about the actual size of the lake. The Lake Protection Committee’s preliminary notification from 2023 placed the lake’s area at approximately 30 acres, a figure derived from a private consultant’s report, Aarvee Associates, which based its findings on satellite imagery from Google Maps. In contrast, residents and local stakeholders have pointed out that the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) had previously declared the lake’s extent to be 17.26 acres in an affidavit submitted to the court in 2016.
This stark discrepancy has sparked considerable concern among the public, especially as the lake is believed to have suffered from severe encroachments, sewage inflows, and widespread dumping. The ongoing degradation of the water body has led to a significant reduction in its capacity, further complicating efforts to determine the lake’s actual size and potential for restoration.
Full Tank Level (FTL) and Ecological Implications
The Full Tank Level (FTL) is a critical metric in the management and protection of lakes and water bodies, representing the maximum water level that the lake can sustain during normal conditions without causing overflow or damage. FTL demarcation is not merely a technical issue but has far-reaching ecological, legal, and social implications. An accurate FTL boundary helps prevent encroachments, ensures that the lake’s catchment area is preserved, and facilitates the protection of the lake from further environmental degradation.
In the case of Ramanthapur Pedda Cheruvu, local residents have contested the preliminary FTL notification, arguing that the lake has been progressively shrinking over the years due to encroachments, dumping, and the unchecked inflow of sewage. They assert that without proper desilting and the establishment of functional outlets to manage the lake’s water flow, the lake’s full potential cannot be realized, and its area cannot be accurately represented. The residents have also emphasized that the lake, once a vibrant ecosystem, has become a dumping ground, further complicating efforts to restore its natural state.
The Court’s Orders: Stakeholder Engagement and Timeline
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Telangana High Court has ordered the Lake Protection Committee and other relevant authorities to engage meaningfully with local residents who have raised objections to the preliminary notification. The court has mandated that these concerns be addressed comprehensively before issuing the final FTL notification. This directive underscores the need for transparency and stakeholder participation in environmental decision-making processes, particularly in cases involving public resources like lakes and water bodies.
Furthermore, the court has set a strict timeline for the authorities to act. The Division Bench directed the final FTL notification to be published within three weeks, reflecting the urgency of the matter. Additionally, the court has ordered the GHMC to fence the lake within six months, a measure aimed at preventing further encroachment and illegal dumping. Fencing the lake is seen as a critical step toward safeguarding its boundaries and ensuring its long-term protection.
Legal and Environmental Ramifications
The legal proceedings surrounding the Ramanthapur Pedda Cheruvu highlight the broader issue of lake protection and urban environmental management in Telangana and other parts of India. Urban lakes like the Pedda Cheruvu are not only important for ecological balance but also serve as essential reservoirs of water, particularly in regions prone to water scarcity. However, rapid urbanization, unplanned development, and weak regulatory enforcement have led to the degradation of many such lakes across the country.
In this case, the PIL filed in 2005 brought to light the neglect and mismanagement of the lake, and the subsequent legal battle has been marked by a series of challenges, including disputes over land demarcation, encroachments, and the inadequacy of existing legal frameworks to protect water bodies effectively. The court’s intervention is a significant step toward rectifying these issues, but it also highlights the need for more robust institutional mechanisms to manage and protect urban lakes.
The court’s insistence on stakeholder engagement is particularly noteworthy, as it reflects a growing recognition of the importance of local communities in environmental governance. By ensuring that residents’ concerns are taken into account, the court is setting a precedent for more inclusive and participatory approaches to environmental decision-making.
Future of Lake Protection in Telangana
The outcome of this case will likely have broader implications for lake protection efforts in Telangana. The state, like many other rapidly urbanizing regions, faces significant challenges in balancing development with environmental conservation. The protection of urban lakes and water bodies has emerged as a critical issue, with several high-profile cases of lake encroachments and degradation coming to the fore in recent years.
If successfully implemented, the court’s orders regarding the Pedda Cheruvu could serve as a model for other lake conservation efforts in the region. The fencing of the lake, the accurate demarcation of its FTL, and the engagement of local stakeholders are all essential components of a comprehensive lake management strategy that could be replicated in other parts of the state.
The Telangana High Court’s directive to the HMDA Lake Protection Committee regarding the extent of the Ramanthapur Pedda Cheruvu represents a crucial step in the ongoing efforts to preserve and restore this vital water body. The court’s emphasis on transparency, stakeholder engagement, and timely action reflects the growing recognition of the need for more effective environmental governance in urban areas. As the legal battle over the lake continues, it serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing urban lakes across India and the urgent need for coordinated efforts to protect these invaluable ecological resources.
