Save Shettikunta Lake: HRCPC files complaint with HYDRAA over encroachments

Hyderabad: The Human Rights & Consumer Protection Cell (HRCPC) Trust has lodged a formal complaint with the HYDRAA (Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency) Commissioner, accusing officials from Ameenpur Municipality, the Revenue Department, and the Irrigation Department of colluding with land-grabbers and allowing illegal constructions on the Shettikunta waterbody.

Citing "undeniable evidence," the Trust has demanded immediate registration of criminal cases and initiation of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) proceedings against the officials involved. HRCPC alleges that instead of safeguarding the Shettikunta lake, the officials facilitated encroachments through corruption and negligence.

In its complaint, HRCPC has called for the demolition of all unauthorised structures, criminal prosecution of the accused officials, and full ecological restoration of the waterbody.

The Trust also announced plans to intervene in over 30 pending cases before the Telangana High Court, pressing for action against officials who failed to prevent the encroachments.

Warning that inaction from authorities would amount to complicity, HRCPC stated that it would continue to pursue the case until accountability is established, public lands are reclaimed, and justice is delivered.

Background:

Thakur Rajkumar Singh, Managing Trustee of HRCPC filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before the National
Green Tribunal, Southern Zone, Chennai in 2015, raising serious

concerns over rampant land grabbing and illegal constructions within the Full Tank Level (FTL) of Shettikunta water body situated in Survey No. 947 of Ameenpur village and
Dubba Kunta in Survey No. 82 of Patelguda village under Patancheru mandal.

The petitioner alleged illegal construction activities in the water body which is recorded in official revenue documents as “Shetti Kunta Shikam,” a public tank or Kunta categorided as "Poramboke Sarkari" and hence deemed government land.

According to the petitioner, the problem started when an unauthorized illegal layout with nearly 250 plots was created following construction permissions issued by the Panchayat Secretaries of Ameenpur and Patelguda between October
2014 and March 2015.

However, the official records, including a letter dated 28-10-2014 from the Tahsildar of Patancheru, confirmed that the area was classified as a water body in the 1954-55 Khasra Pahani and village map.

Despite the Tahsildar's report recommending the immediate halting of construction, the Gram Panchayats, under corrupt influences, continued to issue permissions for residential buildings.