Land Sharks Ready To Swallow Up City Lake
In the last three months alone, the Hakimpet Kunta lake originally spread over an area of over 10 acres has shrunk by a good 10-15 per cent, thanks to illegal dumping of debris in the water body.
While Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials had in the past fenced the lake to keep encroachers at bay, the wall has now been pulled down in some places to make way for lorries carrying the debris and mud.
Locals allege that land mafia, in the name of expanding the small Hanuman temple located at one end of the lake, are rapidly filling up the sprawling water body. Starting from the temple (located next to the compound wall), at least 30-40 feet area of the lake has already been encroached upon even as sources claim that this is just the beginning.
Located in the plush surroundings of Film Nagar, a stone’s throw from the famous Ramanaidu Studios, the Hakimpet Kunta Lake falling prey to land grabbers. We hear that local realtors and political leaders want to gradually fill up the entire water body and use it as a real estate,” said a local pointing out how the new road (connecting Gachibowli to the Inner Ring Road) being laid right in front of the lake, is likely to push property rates in the area manifold over the next few years.
Though at present, the road leading to Hakimpet Kunta houses makeshift shelters on both sides, the plan is to demolish these huts and widen the lane for easy flow of traffic. It is possible then that property rates in the area (pegged at nothing less than Rs 4,500 per square feet even now) will go up to as much as Rs 5,500 or more.
“Shaikpet (the lake is close to the Shaikpet nala) will definitely become a prime realty destination once the road comes,” said environmentalist S Jeevanand Reddy. He added, “They have already built small pucca houses near the water body and I would not be surprised to see houses being built on the lake area soon.”
However, such concerns were rubbished by those managing the Hanuman temple who said that the lake had reclaimed only as a safety measure. While admitting that the lake was being filled, the priest of the temple said, “The temple was right on the edge of the water body and it was not safe. So the government authorities decided to expand the premises by filling a portion of the water body. I am not aware even if there are any other plans.”
The lake protection committee, in the meantime, claimed it was ignorant of any illegal activity and said that it had not been brought to their notice. In fact, Sunil Kumar Gupta, convener of the committee and member (environment) of Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority claimed that the body did not have the wherewithal to keep tabs on every lake in the city. “We will, however, make note of matter and look into it soon,” Gupta said.
Gachibowli, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Hakimpet Kunta lake, Hanuman temple, Hyderabad Lake, Lake encroachments, prime realty destination, Real estate mafia
