Hyderabad: Environmental activist Dr Lubna Sarwath has raised concerns that the historic ‘Bum Ruknud Dowlah’ near Shastripuram in Rajendranagar is under threat of extinction due to the earth being filled inside the FTL (full tank-level) area of the lake since 2018 and the delayed delivery of justice.
“Hyderabad will be on the losing front in the war against lake encroachers,” she remarked.
In a detailed PowerPoint presentation to media at Somajiguda Press Club on Friday, April 5, Dr Lubna showed through Google Earth and other official maps, how commercial and residential buildings, roads and other infrastructure have already been established, and a highway is being planned across the lake presently.
As per the National Remote Sensing Centre’s 2D pics accessed by her from 2012 to 2024, it can be seen how the tank has shrunk and only a small pond is left.
As per the survey carried out by the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) in February 2014, the total area under FTL was 17.491 acres. All the geo coordinates were recorded on that map. However, another survey done by a private agency for GHMC shows the total area as 10.691 acres.
Legal battle
She said that though the case was listed for hearing on April 4 at the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Chennai, when she went there to attend it, she was informed that due to the case being heard in the High Court of Telangana, the tribunal has adjourned it to July.
Lubna said that the case was disposed of in the High Court, and by the time the case comes for hearing in NGT, the lake would be covered up completely.
Lubna clarified that the case in the High Court which the NGT was referring to, was between Ali Bin Mohammad Bahakam, the petitioner, and the State of Telangana, which was disposed of by the High Court in the past.
The assistant government pleader (AGP) for irrigation had submitted to the High Court in the writ petition back then, that the Government interest was also involved over the subject property, and unless a detailed inquiry was conducted, the petitioner couldn’t claim the subject property as ancestral property, and that he has succeeded the same.
The petitioner contended that though the land under Survey number 42 was his ancestral land, the State government was claiming that it was under Survey number 50 of the government land. The single bench of the High Court headed by Justice CV Bhaskar Reddy had disposed of the case in favour of the petitioner.
In 2018, Lubna knocked the doors of NGT, which took the matter seriously and pulled up the then GHMC commissioner, MA&UD principal secretary, and other officials, who visited the lake in 2019. Lubna claims that after their visit, the encroachments have further intensified.
Talking about the higher officials in the municipal administration who were supposed to protect the lake from being encroached on, she said that the very same officials in the previous government were all still there in the present government, and were even elevated to higher positions in the same departments where they enjoyed decision-making powers.
“All the officials are still there. But the lake is not there,” she exclaimed, informing that she would be handing the high Court’s order to the NGT, which still believes that the case was still running in the High Court.
Built by Nawab Mir Musa Khan
The reservoir was built by Nawab Mir Musa Khan, Ruknud Dowlah, who served as the prime minister of Asaf Jah II, and besides common people and the aristocracy, Asafiyah kings had reserved it to meet their own drinking water needs.
“This used to be the water which the Sultans, Nawabs and the kings used to carry whenever they went as far as Delhi and Shimla. It used to be the source of drinking water for the common people as well. Even the irrigation officials say that the water is rich in minerals,” she said.
Talking about the higher officials in the municipal administration who are supposed to protect the lake from encroaching, she said that they were all still there in the present government, and were even elevated to higher positions in the same department.
“All the officials are still there. But the lake is not there,” she said.
| 
