A contentious situation has arisen in Hyderabad, as a villa project undertaken by Greater Infra Projects and allegedly owned by a BRS corporator faces scrutiny for potential violations and encroachment on a water body in Bollaram village. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered investigations by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), the Sangareddy district collector, and the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Both sides have denied the allegations and exchanged accusations of technical errors and misidentification. As the legal battle intensifies, the fate of the villa project and the disputed water body remains uncertain.
In Hyderabad, the National Green Tribunal has instructed the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) and the district collector of Sangareddy to conduct a thorough examination of a villa project allegedly breaching regulations. The project is being carried out by an infrastructure company owned by a BRS corporator and is located near a lake in Bollaram village. The tribunal has cautioned that if the company proceeds with the project, it may face demolition.
Furthermore, the NGT has directed the integrated regional office of the Ministry of Environment and Forests to conduct an independent investigation by August 4th, in response to a complaint filed by the Human Rights and Consumer Protection Cell Trust, an NGO. Additionally, a joint inspection team has asked the HMDA officials to reconsider the permissions granted to Greater Infra Projects Private Ltd based on the team's findings.
According to the order from the southern zone of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), this situation is another example where the water body called Varrakunta, located in survey numbers 82 and 83 of Bollaram in Jinnaram mandal, has been transformed into a construction site by Greater Infra Projects and other parties involved.
The NGT added that based on the photographs submitted by the applicant dating back to 2010, it seems evident that the water body has been gradually destroyed by blocking the inlet and outlet channels and causing damage to the sluices and weirs. It was also observed that the HMDA seemingly granted permission for the construction of the villa.
The tribunal further stated that from the available photographs, the construction appears to have already begun, and if it proceeds, it will be done at the parties' own risk. The tribunal emphasized that it will not hesitate to issue a demolition order if the villa is built on the water body.
Following an inspection by the irrigation department to investigate the dumping of debris in Varrakunta, a report was filed on May 1st. The report stated that the joint inspection team recommended issuing notices under the Telangana Irrigation Act against Greater Infra Projects, represented by its director KV Prasada Rao, in order to halt construction activities within the defined boundaries of the water body's full tank level and its buffer zone. However, Sreekanth, the BRS corporator, denied the allegations.
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