HYDERABAD: Petitioner in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) case of Hussainsagar, Dr Lubna Sarwath, has presented satellite imagery alleging demolition debris from the secretariat was used to fill up the lake. The images show that filling was done from 96 metres to 129 metres. Dr Sarwath said the artifical island in the lake was a violation of rules.
“Telangana government is creating islands inside the FTL of the lake for which no document is available in the public domain nor has the joint committee obtained the same. Islands are being created at the mouth of Kukatpally channel inside the lake from the debris. The photograph evidences show huge land deposits and concretised works under progress inside the Hussainsagar lake,” Dr Sarwath said in the petition.
As per the images presented, on May 21 2020 the distance from FTL Pillar 295 to the deposits was 96 metres. On November 1 2020, the images show the distance between the two points had increased to 102.95 metres. On May 30 2021, the images show more deposits and the distance now increased to 129.12 metres. “Comparative extract of satellite imagery indicates an increase of 35m of land expansion inside lake,” said Dr Sarwath.
The joint committee appointed by NGT had submitted its report on June 8 with suggestions and objections on the cleaning the lake. The committee’s previous report observed that there was repeated failure of the authorities to repair the sluice gates and surplus weir. In the latest report, the committee had asked the irrigation department to provide requested information about FTL and repair of surplus weir near Viceroy Hotel.
“FTL of Hussainsagar has been tampered due to lowering of the weir. The lake bed was exposed and further dumped near the Kukatpally Nalla side and 10 acres had been plotted right inside the FTL,” Dr Sarwath said.
