If you can’t save Hyderabad lakes, resign: Telangana HC CJ to GHMC chief

HYDERABAD: Upset with the affidavit filed by Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) that raised more questions than it answered, a division bench of Telangana high court headed by Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan on Monday asked GHMC commissioner Lokesh Kumar to resign if he could not protect city lakes.
The bench was furious as the GHMC — in its counter in a PIL based on media reports about miserable condition of Kukatpally lake and its adjacent pond — contended that it had no power to appoint employees at lakes to prevent dumping of garbage.The bench then referred to TOI reports highlighting how several lakes were being encroached and the CJ told officials to go through the newspaper if they were not aware of what was happening under their watch.
“Lakes are the lifeblood of humans and if they are destroyed, Hyderabad will become a Jaisalmer in the next 20 years,” the CJ warned. “This Rajasthan city faces such water shortage that officials have asked people to take bath only once in 15 days. If you want to convert Hyderabad into Jaisalmer, then you are welcome,” the CJ said.
The CJ also spoke about lakes in Hyderabad and in neighbouring Bangalore where effluents clandestinely released into them were turning into foam, making it dangerous for people.
The bench was also irked as GHMC counter claimed that lakes were regularly cleaned but no evidence was attached to substantiate it. Asking the GHMC commissioner to file a fresh counter, it posted the case to February 7.