Channel, water body 'destroyed', resulting in flooding of Hyderabad society

The satellite image showing water body in 2015

By A Representative
Dr Lubna Sarwath, an Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore alumni, who is currently Telangana state general secretary and spokesperson of the Socialist Party (India), and has worked as convener Save Our Urban Lakes (SOUL), Hyderabad, in a letter to the Telangana State Legal Services Authority, High Court at Hyderabad, has pointed towards how, because of the destruction of an inflow channel of a water body in the city has led to flooding of Navanami residency, Puppuluguda.
Providing satellite imagery to point towards how this has been done in the north of Survey No 288, Sarwath has recalled a representation of dated July 24, 2019 regarding conversion of the water body on the plot, stating, “We are appalled to note that in spite of our representation to restore water body, the encroachment has not been removed, encroachers and officials have not been proceeded against, and inflow channels and the water body have not been restored.”
Pointing out that the due to “destruction” of the inflow channel of the water body as also of the water body, rain water is not able to take its natural course, resulting into the flooding, , she blamed for this “official lack of diligence of duty and lack of application of mind”, which has resulted into loss of “fresh water inflows into the water body, causing misery to the residents.”

Water body missing in the 2019 satellite image

While the first satellite imagery shows inflow of Bholakpur channel as well as water body in Survey No 288, and a second one shows existence of inflow channel and water body as of 2015, a third satellite image of 2017 shows existence of the inflow channel north of water body but destruction of the water body. A fourth satellite imagery of 2019 further shows destruction of both the inflow channel and the water body.
“We now urge you to promptly restore the inflow channel and the water body by removing all obstructions to rain water inflows”, the letter states, adding, “The flood water inundating Navanami residency should find its rightful place in the water body in survey No 288. Rain water that is a blessing is being turned into terror due to the criminal negligence of the authorities who are in charge of water bodies and its maintenance.”
According to Sarwath, "Telangana-Hyderabad's pride lies in restoring water bodies. We urge that the authorities convene a meeting immediately and all water bodies over which we raised complaints in be restored. Officials and agencies involved in the crime of killing the lake kill should be proceeded against."

Comments

From algorithms to exploitation: New report exposes plight of India's gig workers

By Jag Jivan The recent report, "State of Finance in India Report 2024-25," released by a coalition including the Centre for Financial Accountability, Focus on the Global South, and other organizations, paints a stark picture of India's burgeoning digital economy, particularly highlighting the exploitation faced by gig workers on platform-based services.

'Condonation of war crimes against women and children’: IPSN on Trump’s Gaza Board

By A Representative The India-Palestine Solidarity Network (IPSN) has strongly condemned the announcement of a proposed “Board of Peace” for Gaza and Palestine by former US President Donald J. Trump, calling it an initiative that “condones war crimes against children and women” and “rubs salt in Palestinian wounds.”

India’s road to sustainability: Why alternative fuels matter beyond electric vehicles

By Suyash Gupta* India’s worsening air quality makes the shift towards clean mobility urgent. However, while electric vehicles (EVs) are central to India’s strategy, they alone cannot address the country’s diverse pollution and energy challenges.

Gig workers hold online strike on republic day; nationwide protests planned on February 3

By A Representative Gig and platform service workers across the country observed a nationwide online strike on Republic Day, responding to a call given by the Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) to protest what it described as exploitation, insecurity and denial of basic worker rights in the platform economy. The union said women gig workers led the January 26 action by switching off their work apps as a mark of protest.

Jayanthi Natarajan "never stood by tribals' rights" in MNC Vedanta's move to mine Niyamigiri Hills in Odisha

By A Representative The Odisha Chapter of the Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD), which played a vital role in the struggle for the enactment of historic Forest Rights Act, 2006 has blamed former Union environment minister Jaynaynthi Natarjan for failing to play any vital role to defend the tribals' rights in the forest areas during her tenure under the former UPA government. Countering her recent statement that she rejected environmental clearance to Vendanta, the top UK-based NMC, despite tremendous pressure from her colleagues in Cabinet and huge criticism from industry, and the claim that her decision was “upheld by the Supreme Court”, the CSD said this is simply not true, and actually she "disrespected" FRA.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Over 40% of gig workers earn below ₹15,000 a month: Economic Survey

By A Representative The Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, while reviewing the Economic Survey in Parliament on Tuesday, highlighted the rapid growth of gig and platform workers in India. According to the Survey, the number of gig workers has increased from 7.7 million to around 12 million, marking a growth of about 55 percent. Their share in the overall workforce is projected to rise from 2 percent to 6.7 percent, with gig workers expected to contribute approximately ₹2.35 lakh crore to the GDP by 2030. The Survey also noted that over 40 percent of gig workers earn less than ₹15,000 per month.

Stands 'exposed': Cavalier attitude towards rushed construction of Char Dham project

By Bharat Dogra* The nation heaved a big sigh of relief when the 41 workers trapped in the under-construction Silkyara-Barkot tunnel (Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand) were finally rescued on November 28 after a 17-day rescue effort. All those involved in the rescue effort deserve a big thanks of the entire country. The government deserves appreciation for providing all-round support.

Death behind locked doors in East Kolkata: A fire that exposed systemic neglect

By Atanu Roy* It was Sunday at midnight. Around 30 migrant workers were in deep sleep after a hard day’s work. A devastating fire engulfed the godown where they were sleeping. There was no escape route for the workers, as the door was locked and no firefighting system was installed. Rules of the land were violated as usual. The fire continued for days, despite the sincere efforts of fire brigade personnel. The bodies were charred in the intense heat and were beyond identification, not fit for immediate forensic examination. As a result, nobody knows the exact death toll; estimates are hovering around 21 as of now.

Search This Blog