Subject: Kapra Cheruvu desecrated and devoured with badminton & tennis court, immersion pond, walking road etc. inside the FTL of the lake. Multiple FTL maps manufactured for Kapra Cheruvu to accommodate encroachers. Further desecration and devouring planned through amphitheatre inside the lake.
I.
Deputy Executive Engineer is aware of the below law:
“a) Water Bodies: (i). No building/development activity shall be allowed in the bed of water bodies like river or Nala and in the Full Tank Level (FTL) of any lake, pond, cheruvu or kunta / shikam lands.”
In spite of full knowledge of the above, further desecration of the Kapra lake is mooted by way of ampitheater right inside the FTL of lake and the DEE presides over it.
II.
MLA Kapra and Kapra Corporator who assured the locals of amphitheatre inside the water body had sworn by the constitution of India and should be aware of the following:
Protection of environment and improvement were explicitly incorporated into the Constitution by the Constitution (Forty-Second Amendment) Act of 1976. Article 48A of the directive principles of state policy declares: “the State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wild life of the country.”
In spite of the above, lawmaker MLA in a most ignorant, uncivilized manner assures of amphitheatre inside the lake and that he would get all cases resolved in court.
III.
Citizens and RWAs present at the meeting should be aware of the below:
‘Fundamental Duties’ as envisaged in Article 51A (g), imposes a similar responsibility on every citizen ‘to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures.
They know that immersion pond is right inside FTL of the lake and that it is illegal. Nothing can substitute water zone, water the elixir of life. Yet instead of removing the encroachment and dredging the landfill and concretization they are tightening the noose around the lake to its death.
IV.
Further, badminton and tennis courts, walk-way road, immersion pond, proposed amphitheatre are illegal and against, The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (EPA), National Environment Policy, 2004, Indian Penal Code, Telangana Irrigation Act, Telangana Revenue Act, WALTA Act 2002, and Go 33, 168 etc.
V.
We as stakeholders in Kapra Cheruvu have the following challenges for you:
1. Lake area is acres 112.276. Get the lake area measured and confirm the same.
2. Lake volume is 1.1392 x 106 Cu. M. Confirm the present volume of the lake.
3. PF below multiple maps of Kapra cheruvu and see the reductionist mapping critically at survey no. 634 done to accommodate Bal Reddy encroacher’s badminton academy and tennis academy.
See the comparative maps for reductionist mapping in the southern lake as well. Please tell us which FTL map is authentic and how FTL maps can get changed. Note that all are official maps duly signed by officials. Please tell us which area map are the ‘citizens’ around Kapra lake happy with.
(1)
(2)
(3) Compare extent on northern and southern side of lake. Drastic reduction in demarcation by officials.
(4) Observe the angle of the northern boundary of Kapra lake and compare it with figure (3) with almost straight boundary of Kapra lake.
Please note that we shall not allow you to devour the lake zone. Future generation would crave for water zone and would curse you for devouring a water zone for your fancy immersion ponds, walkways, badminton/tennis and amphitheatres, etc. Fishermen community has suffered there due to the sewage pollution and devouring of the lake area. Please get serious and drop your illegal plans.
Chalk out action plan for restoring the lake area, lake volume and lake water quality.
Please acknowledge receipt and respond promptly to save the water zone for now and posterity.
This email is copied to High Court Registrars so that they take cognizanace of lake annihilation and rescue the lake for life. LONG LIVE LAKES!
Dr Lubna Sarwath, State Gen Secy, Socialist Party (India)
Gopal Patangay, State VP, SP(I)
Dr Jasveen Jairath, former convenor SOUL
Balaswamy Gurram, Convenor, Save our Urban Lakes
