HYDRAA removes five acres of encroachments from Durgam Cheruvu in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRA) removed nearly 5 acres of encroachments from Durgam Cheruvu in Madhapur, following complaints about large-scale illegal occupation of the lake area.Acting on a Prajavani complaint, HYDRAA commissioner AV Ranganath ordered a field inquiry, after which officials confirmed the encroachments on the Inorbit Mall side of the lake. The land was filled with soil and converted into a parking space, allegedly generating rental income of up to Rs 50 lakh per month. HYDRAA officials cleared the area on Tuesday, evacuated vehicles, and erected fencing. Steps are being taken to remove the dumped soil."Once a key source of drinking water for the Golconda rulers, Durgam Cheruvu steadily shrank over the decades due to encroachments. From an original spread of about 160 acres, the lake has now reduced to 116 acres. Records show that nearly 29 acres were encroached upon by 1976, with further losses occurring after 1995. Satellite images provided by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) detail the gradual reduction of the lake area over the years," Ranganath said.Officials said the latest encroachments were carried out by dumping soil up to 10–15 metres deep, gradually extending into the lake's full tank level. The occupied land was reportedly used for parking school buses and vehicles belonging to software companies, as well as obstructing the development of a walking track around the lake."We are assessing the lake's original boundaries using NRSC data, Survey of India maps, and revenue records. Further action will be taken to clear remaining encroachments within the lake limits," Ranganath added.