Save Our Urban Lakes (SOUL), a watch dog organization of environmentalists in Hyderabad, is opposed to the idea of developing a string of islets for birds in Hussain Sagar, the synonym twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The organization cautioned Telangana government that any such intervention has potential to reduce the water-spread area and will have serious ecological consequences for the lake.

Lubna Sarwath of SOUL asked Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) to desist from disturbing the lake any manner from what it is now. As per the interim orders of Supreme Court (25 April 2005) “no further construction shall be carried out except with leave obtained from this Court in, on or around the lake.’

” ‘Dredging’ of toxic material from lake and ‘creation of bird islands out of dredged material’ on ‘dry land patches’ is clear encroachment and reduction of water spread area of the beleaguered lake, which cannot be accepted legally, environmentally, ” Lubna Sarwath said. The noted environmentalist asked the HMDA if it had consulted EPTRI and professors of Environmental Engineering on the toxicity the people would face when the dredged material would be brought to foreshore?

She alleged that JICA (Japanese International Cooperation Agency), which has come forward to fund the program, in company of NJS consultants , was creating environmental havoc in Hyderabad through its diversion tactics thus proliferating pollution, and destruction of water bodies through encroachment in the name of birds.

She raised the following questions:

A. If this proposal has JICA approval as it does not meet the Environmental and Social Guidelines laid down by JICA, ” she asked.

B. There are no updations on either HMDA or GHMC or Telangana government website for public understanding regarding the proposal of NJS consultants which has your approval. An oft repeated violation of Sec. 4 of RTI 2005 by government.

C. Has this been discussed in the Lake Protection Committee of September/October 2015? Has expert opinion from environmentalists of city or national level been reckoned?

Reminding how the Supreme Court time and again had highlighted how a lake maintains the ecological balance and lake areas cannot be occupied in the name of bird- zones., Lubna Sarwath demanded that any such proposal be dropped forthwith and encroachments of lake water area be reclaimed and bird zones be created in that area.