Lake Encroachment by MNR Colleges

Hyderabad, July 2: Environmental activist Dr. Lubna Sarwath has raised serious concerns over the alleged encroachment of Mallam Cheruvu in Fasalvadi village, Sangareddy, by the MNR group of medical and engineering colleges. In an official notice sent via email to the Sangareddy District Collector on Wednesday, Dr. Sarwath claimed that portions of the lake’s Full Tank Level (FTL) have been incorrectly marked in the government’s land records and on the Bhu Bharati digital portal.

Mallam Cheruvu, spread across 125 acres with an additional 21-acre buffer zone, has been partially listed under Survey No. 573. According to Dr. Sarwath, this land has been misrepresented in the Bhu Bharati portal as belonging to the SC Corporation under the Bhoomi Konugolu Pathakam scheme. However, the same land is officially marked as part of the lake’s FTL in revenue department records and is listed in the prohibited register maintained by the Stamps and Registrations Department.

Lake Encroachment — Google Earth imagery showing the encroachment of Mallam Cheruvu’s FTL (red line) and buffer zone (blue line).

In her notice, Dr. Sarwath demanded urgent correction of land classifications in Bhu Bharati to reflect the accurate status of the FTL and buffer zone. She also called for an immediate reconciliation of the Bhu Bharati records with those of the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) and Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO) to ensure accurate entries and necessary prohibitions against encroachments.

Providing satellite imagery from the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) and historical images from Google Earth between 2017 and 2023, the activist presented visual evidence to support her claims of encroachment. She demanded that any construction found within the FTL and buffer zone of Mallam Cheruvu be demolished and the area restored, with all expenses to be borne by MNR Colleges.

“This lake is a vital minor irrigation source for Fasalvadi village. Its degradation due to encroachment is unacceptable,” she stated.

Dr. Sarwath concluded her notice with a strong warning: “If these serious irregularities on record and on the field are not rectified promptly, we will be compelled to approach the High Court of Hyderabad.”

The Sangareddy district administration is yet to issue an official response to the allegations.