NGT panel says Edulakunta is govt water body, flags construction in survey land | Hyderabad News
Hyderabad: An NGT-appointed joint committee has concluded that Edulakunta in Khanamet is a six acre govt water body and that construction activity by NVN Constructions Pvt Ltd falls within its survey limits.The finding comes even as Telangana high court has ruled that the developer’s adjoining 13.17 acre property in Kukatpally does not overlap with the lake survey, creating a legal and administrative impasse over the disputed land.The committee, constituted by the National Green Tribunal’s southern zone, stated that revenue records classify the entire extent of 6 acres 5 guntas in survey No. 7 of Khanamet in Serilingampally mandal as ‘Edulakunta Shikam Sarkari‘. The land has also been included in the prohibitory property list under section 22-A.According to the report, the mandal surveyor demarcated survey No. 7 using the Khanamet village map and available ground reference points. The exercise concluded that construction activity undertaken by NVN Constructions was located within survey No. 7.The finding is in line with a May 25 inspection conducted by Serilingampally revenue officials, who reported that the construction was within survey No. 7. Following the inspection, the tahsildar sought assistance from HYDRAA, after which revenue and HYDRAA officials fenced the land on May 26 and 27.The committee also relied on a Survey of India topo sketch identifying Edulakunta as a water body and a 1989 Landsat satellite image. It said the imagery showed the lake along with a stream network originating from upstream Tammidikunta, with a nala flowing into Edulakunta.The NGT proceedings stem from a plea seeking protection and restoration of Edulakunta and prevention of further encroachment and illegal drainage. The applicants, lake activist Thakur Raj Singh, alleged lake bed filling, debris dumping and unauthorised construction within the lake, its full tank level area and buffer zone. They also alleged that accumulated lake water was pumped out to facilitate construction. However, the committee said this allegation was not independently established during its inquiry.HC found no overlapThe committee also noted a contrasting legal position emerging from a July 31 judgement of the high court. Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka held that NVN Constructions’ 13 acres 17 guntas in survey Nos. 1003 to 1006 of Kukatpally is a private patta land and does not overlap survey No. 7 of Khanamet.The court further held that no water body, shikam or tank exists within the developer’s land. It observed that any restoration of Edulakunta, if required, must be confined to survey No. 7 or other govt land and cannot extend into NVN Constructions’ property.After the fencing exercise in May, NVN Constructions moved contempt proceedings before the high court, which ordered restoration of the 13.17 acre property to its earlier condition, following which the developer regained possession and the fencing was removed.With the revenue demarcation and the high court ruling pointing in different directions, the committee said the issue has been referred to the advocate general’s office. Further measures to protect the kunta, it said, will be taken based on legal advice.
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