Citizen Journalism: Illegal construction on Ameenpur Lake in Sangareddy led to pollution from industrial waste

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Hyderabad: Ameenpur Lake in Sangareddy District was declared a 'Biodiversity Heritage Site' in November 2016 by the Ministry of Environment under the Biological Diversity Act 2002, because of the large number of migratory birds that thrive there.

However, a real estate company called Aaditri Properties/Aaditri Housing Pvt Ltd has illegally started construction and excavation in survey numbers 235 to 247, 251 to 264, 266 and 267 of Ameenpur Village that fall under the FTL/Buffer zone and downstream of the Ameenpur Lake.

Also, industrial wastewater from Coca-Cola, Aurobindo Pharma and other industries and domestic wastewater is being released into the lake resulting in huge chemical pollution and causing the death of fish in the lake.

Seven outflow channels of the lake closed

I verified a few survey numbers and found on the Dharani portal that 260/1 and 265/1 have been marked as government-assigned land. However, the details show it as Patta land which requires a detailed inspection of all survey numbers.

However, in the village map, we can clearly see that said survey numbers fall under the buffer zone/waterbody/downstream of the Pedda Cheruvu.

Multiple complaints have been filed about the excavation and construction being carried out in full swing on the Kingfisher Pond area of Ameenpur Lake by closing all the irrigation outflow channels in the aforementioned survey numbers

However, the land is in the conservation zone which cannot be used for any other purpose as per law. Due to the seven outflow channels being closed, the inflow from domestic drainage and industrial waste into the Biodiversity Lake has been flowing through Patta lands in survey numbers 149 and 150 causing serious damage to the public and personal properties.

How can the government allow 39 floors with four cellars and 10 towers on the lake’s buffer zone/water body? This order by the officials violates NGT orders in OA 156 of 2016 and OA 192 of 2021 and violates fundamental rights under articles 21 and 51.

Old Google Earth images show damage to the lake

There is clear visible evidence of the aforementioned issues.

The village map, the public’s memories of the lake, and backdated Google Earth images clearly show the irreversible damage done to the lake. Ameenpur Lake is the first body of water in India to be recognised as a Biodiversity Heritage Site and it is the first biodiversity site to be approved in an urban area.

Unfortunately, the HMDA has allegedly converted the buffer zone and the Kingfisher Lake area attached to the Ameenpur Lake into a residential zone by colluding with the real estate mafia.

The real estate company has completely filled the lake by carrying out construction activity in the buffer zone, by closing the irrigation outflow channels and is planning to lay a 100-ft road on top of the Tank Bund area and outflow channels.

Chemical pollution from industrial waste

No action has been taken against the real estate company that had already sold flats in the name of a pre-launch offer, a clear violation of the RERA Act. Also, the company has been carrying out construction without obtaining necessary permissions from the competent authorities except for an irrigation NoC.

Why is there no action on the said company despite multiple complaints?

Author: V Ravikrishna- A practising advocate and activist.

The views and opinions expressed in the article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of NewsMeter.