A notification by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority a month ago, converting the land partially under water body and partly buffer zone into residential zone, has kicked up a storm with conservationists questioning the move.
Activist Lubna Sarwath has addressed a letter to the Metropolitan Commissioner and Director (Planning), questioning them on the grounds for declaring a waterbody and buffer as residential zone, which goes against the law.
While HMDA is authorised to change the land use from Conservation to Residential based on the need, water bodies and buffer zones are protected from any construction by the existing rules.
The survey number converted by HMDA through the notification falls into the Gopi Cheruvu area of Serilingampally mandal, the letter said, and contended the legality of the same. The notification goes against the Section 14(3) of the HMDA Act, 2008 which stipulated that the Metropolitan Commissioner’s actions should be within the purview of law.
Further, it contravened the government orders which prohibited construction within the water bodies. Citing a host of Supreme Court orders which explicitly stated that no construction is permissible in water bodies, the letter said that the act of conversion was being done for an area that had already been encroached, and would be construed as condoning the encroachments.
Further, cases pertaining to Gopi Cheruvu are pending in National Green Tribunal and other courts, the letter noted, detailing all the cases in which HMDA is one of the respondents.
Seeking withdrawal of the said notification, Ms.Sarwath said if not, further steps will be taken through criminal/civil court. HMDA Commissioner Sarfaraz Ahmed, when sought his version, said he was unaware of the details and will be able to respond only after obtaining the same.
Published – February 11, 2025 08:14 am IST
