Hyderabad Officials Take Action Against Illegal Dumping in Neknampur Lake
The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection (HYDRA) took serious notice of ongoing construction waste dumping in Neknampur Lake (Chinna Cheruvu) at Manikonda. Despite repeated warnings from the irrigation department, the illegal activity has been continuing for the past six months. HYDRA authorities have now stepped in, warning of strict action against those responsible.
On Wednesday, A.V. Ranganath, Commissioner of HYDRA, inspected the lake to assess the situation firsthand. During his visit, he interacted with local officials and residents living near the lake. Highlighting the need to protect the water body, the Commissioner assured that all relevant departments would collaborate to take necessary measures. He also emphasized that strict action would be taken against illegal dumping activities.
Local residents expressed deep concern about the encroachment and continuous dumping into the lake. They reported that construction agencies have been occupying public roads, buffer zones, and filling the lake with Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) material. This has caused the lake’s water to turn blackish, leading to significant issues such as a sharp decline in groundwater levels in the Manikonda area.
Shaik Aarif Mohammed, General Secretary of the Citizens’ Council, voiced his fears about the shrinking size of the lake. “Despite repeated complaints to the irrigation department, illegal dumping continues. The lake, which originally spanned 108 acres, is already much smaller. If this continues, the lake will vanish altogether. Dumping happens early in the morning, and currently, the lake is covered with construction materials,” he said.
Environmental activist Madhulika Choudary, who is working to protect Neknampur Lake, echoed these concerns. “For the welfare of the lake, the illegal dumping must stop immediately. During the HYDRA Commissioner’s visit, we submitted a representation about the lake’s worsening condition, and he assured us that action would be taken against the violators,” she stated.
Meanwhile, irrigation department officials confirmed that they recently issued notices to the construction agencies involved and warned them to cease such activities. They reiterated their commitment to protecting the lake and ensuring that illegal dumping is brought to an end.
