TG High Court lauds HYDRAA for lake restoration efforts

HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court has praised the Hyderabad Road Development Authority (HYDRAA) for treating lake restoration across the city as a mission. Justice Vijayasen Reddy said HYDRAA’s work on rejuvenating urban lakes was commendable and evident from the visible transformation of several water bodies.

Lake rejuvenation earns judicial praise

Referring specifically to the development of Bathukamma Kunta, the judge said the lake had turned into a scenic spot after years of neglect. “It was once a garbage dump overrun with weeds. The area was unsafe to even approach. Now it has become a beautiful water body bringing joy to local residents,” Justice Reddy observed.

He noted that the revival of Bathukamma Kunta not only improved the surroundings but also mitigated flooding risks and boosted groundwater levels. Similar transformation was visible at Malkam Cheruvu in Gachibowli, he said.

Court urges clear TDR policy

Justice Reddy suggested that the state government frame a clear policy on providing Transferable Development Rights (TDR) to landowners whose properties fall within lake Full Tank Level (FTL) and buffer zones. He was hearing a case related to two acres of land in Thammidikunta Cheruvu at Madhapur.

If the government adopts a fair and transparent TDR mechanism, lake restoration projects would face no obstacles, he said. Senior advocate S Sridhar, representing the petitioners, concurred with the judge’s remarks and said the successful restoration of Bathukamma Kunta stood as proof of HYDRAA’s effective approach. Sridhar also requested the court to ensure that affected landowners in Thammidikunta receive appropriate TDR compensation.