Hyderabad: Chief Justice intervention sought in protecting Musi

Hyderabad: In view of the latest observation of 'failure of officials' to protect water bodies in city by the High Court, the green activists on Wednesday submitted a representation to the Chief Justice seeking intervention to contain persistent encroachment and inflow of pollutants into the Musi river. They alleged that even in 2019, the encroachment (through landfill) continued and authorities failed to address the issue of pollution.

In a petition addressed to The Chief Justice, green activists, Lubna Sarwath, Jasveen Jairath, S Chakri, Balaswamy, Ishtiyaq and others urged him to direct the State government to immediately stop the 'ongoing landfill' at Shankar Nagar at Musi river and to proceed against the officials and public representatives of the area for dereliction of duty in protecting the Musi.

Emphasising that it was contempt of Supreme Court (if the water body not in use is being land filled), they cited cases where the Apex Court had pulled up the officials. While referring to the Satellite imagery, they alleged that toxic inflows from north and south of city have only increased in the recent past. "The river got further polluted and further encroached over the past 6 years, from 2014 to 2019 (after the formation of Telangana)," they added.

They appealed to Chief Justice to direct Telangana State WALTA (Water, Land and Tree) Authority to evict encroachments identified by them. To also direct to submit action plan to restore Musi river in its full aesthetic glory and public utility.

They also questioned the sincerity of Musi Riverfront Development Corporation (MRDC) in restoration of the river. They sought Chief Justice' intervention in seeking 'work report' on Musi by the Corporation in the recent years.