Activist Lubna alleges destruction of heritage water bodies by HYDRAA

Hyderabad (Same Day): Social activist and ecological economist Dr. Lubna Sarwath has alleged that the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has caused irreversible damage to the historic Bum Rukn-ud-Dowla Talab and Neher-e-Hussaini Bowli at Shivrampally, near Mir Alam Tank, under the guise of restoration and beautification.

In a public note issued on Tuesday, Dr. Lubna Sarwath, who is also the petitioner in a case pending before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Chennai Bench, said that despite HYDRAA’s mandate being limited to the protection of government assets and removal of encroachments, the agency had “overstepped its ambit” by destroying heritage structures, altering the natural character of the water bodies, and undertaking large-scale concretisation.

She alleged that HYDRAA has been repeatedly releasing videos claiming to be restoring the “glory” of the heritage lake, while, in reality, the original bund and associated water structures had been dismantled. Terming this as an attempt to legitimise “falsified acts,” Dr. Sarwath accused the agency of misleading the public, the media, and statutory bodies, including the NGT.

Referring to her open appeal dated December 11, 2025, addressed to the Chief Minister of Telangana, she urged the government to take action against HYDRAA for what she described as contempt of Supreme Court orders relating to the protection of water bodies. She also claimed that HYDRAA had condoned private encroachments while spending crores of public funds on consultancy services provided by non-local firms.

Dr. Lubna Sarwath further questioned HYDRAA’s reliance on Bengaluru-based technocrats and said repeated Right to Information (RTI) applications seeking clarity on these decisions had gone unanswered. She asserted that scientific and geo-spatial evidence submitted by her demonstrated the extent of damage caused to the lake after HYDRAA’s intervention, even while the matter remains sub judice.

The activist also pointed out that experts who have long worked on Hyderabad’s historic water systems, including scholars familiar with Munn Maps and the city’s hydrological heritage, were ignored. Instead, she alleged, HYDRAA was now engaging descendants of Nawab Rukn-ud-Dowla Bahadur, the original creator of the lake, in an attempt to gain legitimacy for its actions.

Dr. Sarwath emphasised that city-based activists and lake conservationists have been campaigning for the protection of the Bum Rukn-ud-Dowla Talab since well before 2014, and that the NGT case was filed as early as 2018, long before HYDRAA was constituted. She called for greater respect for the work of environmental activists and demanded that independent experts and lake champions be appointed as consultants for HMDA and HYDRAA.

She also invoked recent remarks by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on the need for a strong environmental and ecological vision, urging authorities to adopt an ethical, transparent, and science-based approach to heritage and water body conservation.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CM Revanth Reddy Pays Tributes to Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Hind for TG and AP President Hafiz Peer Shabbir

Image
Hyderabad (Same Day): Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday paid rich tributes to Maulana Hafiz Peer Shabbir, President of the Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Hind for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, who passed away recently after a prolonged illness. The Chief Minister visited the late leader’s residence in Shaheen Nagar, under Jalpally Municipality limits, and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family members. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Revanth Reddy described Maulana Shabbir as a distinguished social reformer and a bridge between communities, who worked tirelessly for the welfare of minorities and to promote communal harmony in the State. “His demise is an irreparable loss not only to the Muslim community but to the entire Telangana society. His services to public life and interfaith unity will always be remembered,” the Chief Minister said. Mr. Revanth Reddy also assured that the State Government would continue Maulana Shabbir’s mission of resolving minority issues and woul...
Read more

Patients Forced to Buy Medicines, Carry Bottles at Unani Hospital Charminar: Lubna Sarwat Raise Alarm

Image
Hyderabad (Same Day): Patients visiting the Government Unani Hospital in Charminar are reportedly being compelled to purchase a majority of their prescribed medicines from private pharmacies, with activists claiming that over 60% of essential Unani medicines are unavailable at the facility. Adding to the woes, patients are also being asked to bring their own empty bottles to collect traditional halwa-based medicines—a practice described as both inconvenient and degrading by social activists and patient families. Dr. Lubna Sarwath, social and environmental activist and member of the Indian National Congress (INC), has formally raised the grievance with the Hyderabad District Collector on Wednesday, demanding immediate redressal. “This is a public hospital meant to serve the underprivileged. Patients should not have to bear the financial burden of purchasing medicines or bring containers to access prescribed formulations. It reflects a breakdown in basic public health services,” she sai...
Read more

Maulana Azad National Urdu University Invites Applications for ODL Programmes for 2025-26

Image
Hyderabad (Same Day): Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), through its Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE), has invited online applications for admission to its array of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) programmes for the academic year 2025–2026. The academic session is scheduled to commence from July–August 2025. According to a notification issued by the University, the programmes on offer include postgraduate courses such as M.A. in Urdu, Hindi, English, Arabic, History, and Islamic Studies, in addition to professional programmes like MBA and B.Ed, both of which will be offered through an entrance-based admission process. The university is also offering undergraduate honours programmes in Arts, Commerce, and Science. A wide selection of diploma and certificate programmes ranging from Journalism and Mass Communication to Early Childhood Care and Urdu proficiency aim to cater to a diverse student population seeking flexible and career-oriented learning pathways. ...
Read more