In a significant development, the Commissioner of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), AV Ranganath, personally appeared before the Telangana High Court on Friday to offer an unconditional apology. This came after he failed to attend a crucial hearing on November 27 in a contempt case concerning the Bathukammakunta lake located in Amberpet.
Court Accepts Apology, Questions Lake Transformation
A division bench comprising Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya and Justice BR Madhusudhan Rao presided over the matter. The bench accepted the commissioner's sincere apology and decided to dispense with his requirement for future personal appearances in this particular case. The court has scheduled the next hearing for December 18.
Addressing the judges, Ranganath stated, "I tender my unconditional apology for missing the 27th hearing. It was totally unintentional. It is not out of any disrespect or disregard for the court." He explained his absence by citing an emergency situation he was managing that day. A canal had overflowed in the Bachupally locality, leading to inundation. Tragically, the incident resulted in the release of toxic gases, which a woman inhaled, causing her death.
Bench Highlights Drastic Alterations to Lake Area
While accepting the apology, the court did not hold back its observations regarding the substantial physical changes made to the Bathukammakunta lake area. The bench pointed out that from the initial court order in June to subsequent directives in October, the site had become almost unrecognisable due to the work carried out by the water board.
The bench remarked, "HMWSSB, on the pretext of preventing inundation of areas adjoining the lake, has completely changed it. A lake has come up, gates set up, inauguration done." When the special government pleader representing the board argued that only inlet and outlet pipes had been laid and no major construction undertaken, the judges referred to photographic evidence submitted in court.
They pointedly asked, "Look at the photographs. Has the property remained the same or has it been completely transformed beyond recognition?" This line of questioning underscores the court's deep concern over the scale of alterations made to the disputed land.
Origin of the Contempt Case
The contempt petition was originally filed by A Sudhakar Reddy, who claims ownership of the seven-acre plot where the lake is situated. Reddy's contention is that the land is privately owned, and the actions taken by the authorities thereon led to the legal proceedings.
The case highlights the ongoing tensions between urban development initiatives, flood prevention measures, and property rights in rapidly growing cities like Hyderabad. The court's scrutiny ensures that civic projects adhere to legal directives and do not overstep their mandate, even when undertaken for public welfare reasons like preventing waterlogging.
