GHMC Commissioner asked to appear in HC on Jan 27

A two judge bench of the Telangana High Court comprising Chief Justice Raghuvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice K Lakshman on Monday directed the GHMC Commissioner to appear before the court on January 27 to explain the actions taken to prevent garbage dumping in Kukatpally lake.

The bench questioned as to why the GHMC cannot appoint a ‘chowkidar’ to protect the lake from garbage dumping. “The Commissioner GHMC is free to resign from his post if he cannot take responsibility and action for the protection of lakes in the city,” the bench said.

Pointing to the reports of newspapers on illegal constructions at two other lakes in Hyderabad, the Chief Justice expressed displeasure over the authorities failure to take action on illegal constructions.

“Do you want to convert Hyderabad into Jaisalmer where you do



not get a mug of water for bath?” the Chief Justice pointedly asked. The bench was dealing with a suo motu public interest litigation case based on a news report complaining of contamination of a pond created near Kukatpally lake for immersion of idols and flowers during Ganesh Chaturthi and Bathukamma festival.

It also raised concern on indiscriminate contamination by throwing garbage and filth. When the GHMC counsel pointed out that the pond was an open lake and they cannot control the garbage dumping, the bench asked as to what stops GHMC from appointing security personnel to protect lakes.

While the GHMC counsel requested time to file a better explanation, the bench stated that the GHMC cannot claim to be unaware of what was happening in the city and ordered the presence of GHMC Commissioner.