HYDRA Halts Illegal Dumping at Mella Cheruvu

Hyderabad: HYDRAA on Friday claimed to have stopped the illegal dumping of soil and rock into Mella Cheruvu, where more than half of the 108-acre lake has been filled with debris. Residents complained to HYDRAA that floodwater was blocked from entering the lake due to intentional blocking of the inlets.

Medak BJP MP M. Raghunandan Rao also submitted a written complaint to HYDRAA commissioner AV Ranganath regarding the condition of the lake.

After field inspections, HYDRAA found that more than half of the lake area was filled. Land at full tank level (FTL) of lakes can only be used for agriculture and changing the nature of lake land is a serious violation.

HYDRAA removed the illegal levees and barriers during the morning and fenced approximately 40 acres within FTL to prevent further soil spillage, completing the work in the afternoon. Authorities have taken measures to ensure that agricultural activities are not affected.

In a separate action in Rangareddy district, HYDRAA said it removed an illegal compound wall in Pedda Amberpet village. The wall built illegally on the roads belonging to the Sabari Hills settlement plan was preventing the land owners from accessing the land. Following complaints from land owners, HYDRAA conducted an investigation and found that approximately 4,000 square meters of residential area had been usurped. Authorities removed the wall and restored access to the roads.