The Telangana High Court constituted a committee to conduct the study of Durgam Cheruvu lake and submit a report to this Court with regard to causes of pollution and the measures which are required to be taken to protect and preserve the lake.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti heard a Suo Motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) registered on the basis of a news item which appeared in Daily Newspaper, Hyderabad City Edition dated 12.12.2023.
As per the news item, Durgam Cheruvu lake is situated in the midst of the city. The environmentalists and local residents have found hundreds of fish floating on the surface of the lake and for gasping of air and some of them were spotted lifeless along its periphery.
A video showing thousands of dead fish on social media was also shared. The aforesaid incident indicates that the water in the lake is polluted and is poisonous. The sewage flowing from the houses is being let of directly into the lake.
There are two Sewage Treatment Plants located at the full tank level of the lake and when it rains, Sewage Treatment Plants get inundated with water, mud, which disrupts their functionality.
The old Sewage Treatment Plants have ceased to operate long ago and the new Sewage Treatment Plant failed after the rains.
It has been stated in the news item that a recent study conducted by Mahindra University and IIT, Hyderabad uncovered the presence of 183 compounds including pharmaceuticals, herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, hormones, steroids, UV filters, plasticizers, cyanotoxins and metabolites in the water.
The research pointed out to the potential harm these pollutants pose to both human and aquatic life. Rapid urbanization has taken place around the lake.
Therefore, urgent measures are required to be taken to restore and save the iconic lake in the city of Hyderabad.
In order to ascertain the causes of pollution and to restore and preserve the Durgam Cheruvu lake, we deem it appropriate to appoint an Expert Committee which shall inspect the site and shall submit a report with regard to causes of pollution as well as the measures which are required to be undertaken to protect and preserve the lake in question.
Vedula Srinivas, Amicus Curiae submitted that he has communicated with Director, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nehru Marg, Nagpur, who has expressed his willingness to conduct the study of Durgam Cheruvu lake and submit a report to this Court with regard to causes of pollution and the measures which are required to be taken to protect and preserve the lake.
The Court therefore directed the constitution of the following Committee, which shall be headed by Director, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute.
T.Srikanth Reddy, Government Pleader for Revenue undertakes before the Court that all assistance shall be rendered to the aforesaid Committee and a Police team shall also accompany the Members of the Committee at times when they inspect the lake in question. In addition, all the expenses including travelling expenses of the Chairman of the Committee and the expenses for carrying out the inspection shall be borne by the State Government.
Matter is listed next on 06.02.2024 for further hearing.