The Committee assessing damage and suggesting long-term and short-term remedies for the protection of Telangana's most iconic lake, The Durgam Cheruvu, filed its report before the Telangana High Court.

In December, the Telangana High Court acknowledged the deteriorating condition of the Durgam Cheruvu Lake after reading a news article titled "Durgam Cheruvu Chokes on sewage, will Hyderabad rescue its iconic lake?"

On Wednesday, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti announced the formation of a committee headed by Dr. Atul Narayan Vaidya, Director of the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nehru Marg, Nagpur, to assess the damage and propose remedies. Subsequently, the Committee submitted its report.

The report revealed that although two sewage treatment plants have been established, a portion of sewage continues to be discharged into the lake.

Despite the lake being notified, 49 constructions were erected within the Full Tank Level (FTL) and 149 constructions were built in the buffer zone. Drainage projects aimed at diverting sewage have been initiated but remain incomplete. Additionally, the report highlighted the installation of 60 cameras along the walking track surrounding the lake to monitor littering.

The committee has submitted comprehensive short-term and long-term remedies, taking into account various factors such as inundation after the monsoon, fishing activities, Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, inspection of both legal and illegal constructions, installation of informative boards, public awareness campaigns, and regular maintenance of sewage treatment plants (STPs). For long-term measures, the committee has proposed a survey of the lake, baseline monitoring, diagnostic studies, watershed assessment, sewage management strategies, dredging and desilting activities, construction of silt traps, and the establishment of buffer zones and green belts.

The Bench has directed the State authorities to go through the report and submit ways to implement the same. The matter is posted for February 28. Case no.: Suo Motu PIL 10 of 1023