Hyderabad: The livelihood of fishermen in Telangana is being severely affected due to the encroachment of lakes, according to Mettu Sai Kumar, the chairman of the Telangana State Fisheries Co-operative Societies Federation Ltd (TSFCSFL).
Kumar highlighted that fishermen, who depend on lakes and ponds for harvesting fish, are struggling as water levels in these bodies continue to drop. He attributed this decline to the increasing construction activities around these water bodies.
Speaking to the media, Kumar urged the government to take action to restore the condition of lakes across the State. He suggested that an authority like HYDRA should be engaged to bring back the former glory of these water bodies.
He emphasized that the families of fishermen are losing their means of livelihood across Telangana as lakes are drying up. “No one has the right to encroach on lakes because they are public property,” Kumar stated. He urged that the HYDRA model should be implemented throughout the State.
In a related matter, PCC spokesperson Chanagani Dayakar accused BRS legislator Palla Rajeshwar Reddy of constructing institutions in the buffer zone of Nadam Cheruvu in Medchal-Malkajgiri district. Dayakar alleged that Reddy pressured officials to ignore these illegal constructions.
Dayakar criticized Reddy, saying that after engaging in such wrongful activities, it is inappropriate for him to make allegations against government actions. He further accused Reddy’s institutions of violating norms and exploiting poor students for financial gain.
