High Court Constitutes Expert Committee For Restoration & Preservation Of Iconic Durgam Cheruvu Lake in Hyderabad

The Telangana High Court has constituted an expert committee for the restoration & preservation of the iconic Durgam Cheruvu Lake in Hyderabad.

The Court had last week suo motu taken up proceedings to monitor and preserve the Lake after a news article spoke of its deteriorating condition and dying fish.

On the recommendations of the Amicus Curie the division Bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti have appointed the Expert Committee which is to ensure the health of the lake.

Dr. Atul Narayan Vaidya, Director National Environment Engineering, Research Institute, Nehru Marg, Nagpur who has previous experience in the field and has shown his willingness to study the lake and suggest restoration measures will be heading the committee and has been directed to file a report within 6 weeks before the Court. It held:

"We therefore direct the constitution of the following Committee, which shall be headed by Dr. Atul Narayan Vaidya, Director, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nehru Marg, Nagpur."

The Committee shall also include the Principal Secretary, (Irrigation and Command Area Development Department) and M. Shanthi Vardhani (Secretary, High Court, Legal Services Committee).

The Revenue Department has assured the Court that all assistance required by the committee will be rendered by the Department.

The police are also directed to accompany the committee and lastly, the Court has directed that all expenditure, including travel expenditure will be borne by the State.

"In addition, all the expenses including travelling expenses of the Chairman of the Committee and the expenses for carrying out the inspection shall be borne by the State Government."

On the last date of hearing, the bench had refused to rely on the Municipal Corporation to safeguard the lake stating that the municipality is quick in defending itself.

SuomotoWP(PIL) : 10 of 2023

Counsel for respondents: Vedula Srinivas: Amicus Curiae.

B.Lakshmi Kanakavalli Assistant Government Pleader for Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department

V.Saurabh Verma, learned Government Pleader for Irrigation and Command Development.

Mr. T.Srikanth Reddy, Government Pleader for Revenue

C.H.Jaya Krishna, counsel representing Mr. Katika Ravinder Reddy, Standing Counsel for Greater Municipal Corporation.

G.M.Sunitha, counsel representing G.Narender Reddy, Standing Counsel for Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board.

Ms. T.V.Sudha, counsel representing V.Narasimha Goud, Standing Counsel for Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority.