Durgam Cheruvu Lake Pollution Row: Telangana High Court Seeks State's Response On Remedial Measures Suggested By Committee

The Committee appointed to assess damage and suggest long term and short term remedies for the protection of Telangana's most iconic lake The Durgam Cheruvu filed its report before the Telangana High Court.

In December the Telangana High Court had taken cognizance of the deprecating condition of the Durgam Cheruvu Lake, following a news article titled " Durgam Cheruvu Chokes of sewage, will Hyderabad rescue its iconic lake?"

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti had directed a committee to be formed headed by Dr. Atul Narayan Vaidya, Director, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nehru Marg, Nagpur to assess the damage and suggest remedies. On Wednesday, the Committee submitted its report.

The report stated that two sewage treatment plants have been set, but a portion of sewage was still being drained into the lake.

Though the lake is notified, 49 constructions had been set up in Full Tank Level (FTL) and 149 constructions had come up in buffer zone.

Drainage projects had been undertaken to divert the sewage but the projects are yet to be completed.

It also noted that 60 cameras had been installed in the walking track that surrounds the lake to monitor littering.

The committee has also submitted detailed short term and long term remedies.

The remedies have considered all aspects including inundation after monsoon, fishing, ganesh chaturthi, inspecting legal and illegal constructions, setting up of boards, spreading public awareness and regular maintenance of the STPs.

As long term measures Committee has suggested survey of the Lake, baseline monitoring, diagnostic study, watershed assessment, sewage management, de-ledging and desilting, construction of slit traps and establishment of buffer zone and green belt.

The Bench has directed the State authorities to go through the report and submit ways to implement the same.

The matter is posted for February 28.

Case no.: Suo Motu PIL 10 of 1023

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