HYDRAA seizes tankers with toxic water, MLA Arekapudi halts demolition of huts at Sunnam Cheruvu

Hyderabad: Enforcement HYDRAA teams has intensified its restoration works and removed illegal encroachments within the lake’s Full Tank Level (FTL) area as part of their efforts to revive Sunnam Cheruvu.

On Monday, officials demolished several unauthorized borewells and sheds used for illegal water trade despite repeated warnings about the water’s toxicity.

Toxic water mafia busted

Even after the Pollution Control Board (PCB) confirmed the presence of dangerous heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and nickel in the borewell water, local traders continued to sell it for drinking and commercial purposes.

Acting on HYDRAA’s complaint, Madhapur police arrested Venkatesh, the alleged kingpin behind the illegal tanker business, on Sunday night and seized lakhs worth of cash from his premises. Police also found that apart from water trade, illegal liquor parties were being organized in his sheds.

Gandhi opposes HYDRAA demolitions at Sunnam Cheruvu

Serilingampally MLA Arekapudi Gandhi on Monday strongly objected to the demolition of houses and structures carried out by the Hyderabad Road Development and Aesthetic Authority (HYDRAA) at Sunnam Cheruvu in Madhapur. His remarks came shortly after Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender had also opposed similar demolitions in his constituency earlier this year.

No technical survey conducted

Gandhi, who switched from BRS to Congress last year, criticised HYDRAA for launching the demolition drive without first conducting a proper technical survey or clearly marking the Full Tank Level (FTL) boundaries of Sunnam Cheruvu.

Ignored past representations

He noted that since 2021, representations highlighting encroachments around the lake had been submitted along with photographs and boundary maps. “Despite this, the demarcated boundaries have been ignored and altered, which reflects a serious failure on the part of GHMC, Revenue, and Irrigation departments,” he said while addressing the media.

Warns of escalating to CM

Gandhi warned that if the issue was not resolved, he would take it up with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. “I will ensure that Revenue and Irrigation officials open their eyes. They will be taken to meet HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath for a meeting. If the mistakes are corrected, good. If not, I will escalate the matter to the Chief Minister,” he cautioned.

Residents in distress

He added that residents had made nearly 200 phone calls since morning after demolitions began. “By the time I reached the site, officials had already left. The problem exists on one end of the lake, but demolitions are happening on the other side,” he pointed out.

Demands fresh demarcation

Explaining further, Gandhi said that over the years, rainwater inflows from Navbharat Nagar, Madhapur, Kakatiya Hills, Kukatpally, and Jubilee Hills into Sunnam Cheruvu have been blocked, resulting in altered lake boundaries. “Officials need to first fix the actual boundaries. Residents of SIET Society have been demanding a resurvey for 10 years due to errors made in previous demarcations,” he said.

Encroachments removed as per official surveys

HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath has clarified that its action was limited to structures within the FTL. As per Survey of India’s 1970 toposheet, Sunnam Cheruvu spread across 26 acres, while a 2016 HMDA survey recorded it at 32 acres. Officials stated that restoration is strictly within boundaries confirmed by the irrigation and revenue departments.

The draft HUDA layout in the area was cancelled years ago, and no building permissions have been issued in the last ten years due to plots falling in FTL. HYDRAA advised affected plot owners to apply for compensation under government policies or claim Transferable Development Rights (TDR) as per law.

Rapid Progress in lake beautification

Located near the Madhapur IT corridor and Borabanda basti, Sunnam Cheruvu has been under restoration with significant progress this monsoon. HYDRAA removed decades-old plastic waste and garbage, diverted sewage drains to prevent pollution, and began constructing bunds and walking tracks.

Plans are underway for children’s parks and open gyms to create a healthy environment for locals. Residents noted that the removal of foul smell and mosquito menace has already improved the area’s livability, with rising property values adding to their relief.

Toxic water, despite repeated warnings

Despite repeated warnings and evidence of severe contamination, the underground water trade continued for years, endangering thousands of people.

Tests conducted by HYDRAA through the Pollution Control Board (PCB) revealed that water from borewells in the area contained dangerous levels of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and nickel, elements known to cause cancer, heart disease, and liver damage.