In a major operation on Saturday, the Hyderabad Disaster Response & Asset Protection Agency forces cleared the full tank level of the Mushkin Cheruvu between Narsingi and Puppalguda of several encroachments.

The FTL of the lake has been reduced from 52 acres to less than 20 acres through construction of a bund through the lake, thus manufacturing over 35 acres of land upstream, a statement from HYDRAA informed.

The operation was taken up based on the complaints from locals, who approached HYDRAA alleging encroachment by the organisation, which had been handed over the responsibility of the lake’s development under Corporate Social Responsibility.

A field level enquiry by HYDRAA together with Irrigation, Revenue and municipal officials has revealed that the lake extended to over 59 acres as per the village maps. Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority’s preliminary notification fixed the lake’s extent at over 52 acres, which includes over 20 acres of government land.

The agency which had taken up the lake, tried to develop only the area within the government’s ownership, in view of the obstacles created by the private patta holders within the FTL. The bund was created in that effort, but brought down by HYDRAA forces in order to restore the original extent.

HYDRAA’s statement on Saturday informed that with a view to encroach the FTL, realty firms had already built huts for poor people on the land. HYDRAA officials convinced the occupants about the real intentions of the builders, and gave two months for them to vacate the houses.

About 40-50 huts were removed from the FTL, along with temporary structures which were being used for garbage segregation. After clearing the encroachments, HYDRAA forces fenced off the lake’s FTL to prevent future infringements.