Tue Dec 30 16:03:56 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
The Hyderabad Disaster Response & Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has cleared five acres of encroachment from the full tank level (FTL) of Durgam Cheruvu lake in Hyderabad. This action follows reports of gradual encroachment over three years, where the lake was filled with soil and debris, and the space used as a parking lot. A local public representative is allegedly behind the encroachment, claiming the land as their own. The encroachment also impedes the construction of a walking track around the lake. Authorities will now review records to determine the lake’s actual extent. Satellite imagery shows that significant portions of the lake have been filled in over several decades, reducing its original size.
News Article:
HYDRAA Clears Encroachment from Durgam Cheruvu Lake, Five Acres Reclaimed
Hyderabad, December 30, 2025 – In a move lauded by environmental activists and local residents, the Hyderabad Disaster Response & Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) today announced the successful removal of five acres of encroachment from the full tank level (FTL) of the iconic Durgam Cheruvu lake. The operation comes after years of reported inaction, despite growing concerns over the lake’s shrinking size.
“We have cleared the encroachments and fenced off the reclaimed area,” stated a HYDRAA spokesperson. The agency alleges that a local public representative is behind the illegal occupation, which involved filling the lake with soil and debris, and using the space as a parking lot for school buses and IT company vehicles.
The Hindu newspaper had been reporting on the encroachment for over two years. “The situation was deteriorating rapidly,” said one environmental activist. “We’re grateful to HYDRAA for finally taking action.”
The encroachment has also been hindering the construction of a planned walking track around the lake.
HYDRAA now plans to conduct a thorough review of historical records from the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Survey of India, and Revenue Department to accurately determine the lake’s original and current extent. Satellite imagery reveals a disturbing trend of land grabbing, with 29 acres filled in by 1976 and another 10 acres between 1995 and 2000. The lake, once spanning over 160 acres, now exists in approximately 116 acres.
HYDRAA Chief A.V. Ranganath noted the difficulty and cost associated with removing boulders that had been dumped into the lake during the encroachment. The cleared area will be restored and protected.
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