Telangana High Court Demands Answers on Dharmasagar Tank Encroachments
The Telangana High Court has taken a firm stance on the issue of illegal constructions within the Dharmasagar tank in Nirmal Town. On Wednesday, the court issued directives to the irrigation department and Nirmal district administration, requiring them to clarify their position regarding a public interest litigation (PIL) that seeks the removal of unauthorized structures in the full tank level (FTL) area of the lake.
PIL Highlights Alleged Inaction by Authorities
The PIL was initiated by a local resident, N Shravan, who has raised serious concerns about the failure of various government bodies to address encroachments within the lake's FTL limits. According to the petition, Shravan submitted formal complaints to multiple departments, including revenue, irrigation, and municipal authorities, but no substantial action was taken to either remove existing illegal constructions or prevent new ones from emerging.
Shravan's legal counsel emphasized that while show-cause notices were issued to some individuals, there was a noticeable lack of effective follow-up measures. This has reportedly allowed unauthorized structures to continue being built within the notified FTL area without obtaining necessary permits from competent authorities.
Court Proceedings and Official Responses
During the hearing, authorities informed the court that they had already communicated with the lake protection committee to examine the legal aspects of the constructions within the FTL. Recording this submission, a bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin directed the authorities to obtain further instructions and adjourned the matter for four weeks for a subsequent hearing.
The petitioner alleged that the authorities' inaction on the complaints and failure to address the illegal constructions prompted the filing of the PIL, which specifically seeks court orders for the removal of these structures from the FTL area. This case underscores ongoing challenges in environmental protection and urban planning in Telangana.
