Is BRS MLA Kotha Prabhakar Reddy Involved in Durgam Cheruvu Encroachment?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- BRS MLA Kotha Prabhakar Reddy is facing allegations of encroachment on Durgam Cheruvu.
- The case was filed by HYDRAA following a formal complaint.
- Encroachment has reportedly been ongoing since 2014.
- Authorities have initiated significant action to clear the encroached land.
- The lake has significantly shrunk due to illegal activities.
Hyderabad, Jan 2 (NationPress) The Cyberabad Police have initiated legal proceedings against Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA Kotha Prabhakar Reddy for purportedly encroaching upon Durgam Cheruvu located in the Information Technology hotspot of Madhapur.
Following a complaint lodged by the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA), the Madhapur Police have filed a case against Prabhakar Reddy.
This case has been registered under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act.
The complaint states that in 2014, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) issued a Full Tank Level (FTL) primary notification concerning Durgam Cheruvu.
Notwithstanding this, two individuals, Kotha Prabhakar Reddy and Venkat Reddy, have allegedly encroached upon approximately 5 acres of Durgam Cheruvu by filling the lake area with soil and stones. They are reportedly profiting from the encroached land by utilizing it for STS private transport parking. The encroachment has persisted since 2014, according to HYDRAA's complaint.
Recently, HYDRAA undertook a significant operation to eradicate encroachments at Durgam Cheruvu. As part of this effort, around five acres of encroached lake territory have been cleared near the Inorbit Mall in Madhapur.
This encroached area was allegedly filled with soil and unlawfully used for parking school buses and vehicles belonging to IT companies.
The encroachers were reportedly generating a profit of Rs 50 lakh every month. HYDRAA officials removed the vehicles, installed fencing around the lake's boundaries, and initiated steps to eliminate the dumped soil.
HYDRA Commissioner A. V. Ranganath directed immediate action following a complaint received during the Prajavani program.
Officials have reported that Durgam Cheruvu, which once spanned 160 acres, has diminished to 116 acres due to systematic encroachments and dumping activities. Illegal filling with soil to depths of 10-15 metres has resulted in the gradual occupation of the lake area, obstructing even the proposed walking track around the lake.