HYDERABAD — A division bench of the Telangana High Court, led by Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin, took up the case after listening to initial arguments from the petitioner. The court dismissed resistance from state officials and set the PIL for prompt consideration.

N. Shravan, a local resident of Nirmal district, filed the petition. He claims state agencies have failed to stop or demolish structures built within the lake’s full tank level, or FTL, boundaries. Shravan told the court he sent multiple complaints to revenue, irrigation and municipal officials. None led to meaningful action, according to his submissions.

Petitioner’s lawyer, PR Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy, pointed out that authorities issued show-cause notices to some violators. Yet no follow-through occurred. Reddy stressed that new buildings keep rising in the protected zone without proper approvals. The FTL marks the lake’s maximum water extent, and encroachments there threaten the water body, he argued.

Dharmasagar lake serves as a key resource in Nirmal district, about 200 kilometers north of Hyderabad. Local residents rely on it for irrigation and drinking water. Unauthorized constructions have shrunk its size over years, petition documents state. Shravan’s PIL seeks court orders to survey the area, raze illegal structures and punish negligent officials.

State counsel objected to listing the case quickly. They called for more time to respond. The bench rejected that plea. Justices Singh and Mohiuddin directed authorities to file counters ahead of the next hearing.

Cases like this highlight ongoing battles over urban encroachments on lakes across Telangana. In Hyderabad, similar PILs have forced demolitions around Hussain Sagar and other tanks. Nirmal’s lake issue draws attention amid rising concerns for water conservation in the state.

Environmental groups welcomed the court’s move. They say lakes face existential threats from real estate pressures. One activist noted that FTL violations often start small but lead to major losses in storage capacity during monsoons.

The hearing took place February 21, 2025. No date for the full arguments has been fixed yet. Court officials expect a detailed order soon. Shravan’s petition lists specific sites with alleged structures, including residential plots and commercial sheds inside the FTL.

Telangana’s irrigation department maps FTLs under state rules. Building there requires special clearance, rarely granted. Petition records show at least a dozen violations since 2020, despite complaints. Officials blame staffing shortages and legal hurdles for delays.

Judges questioned the government’s enforcement record. Chief Justice Singh asked why notices went unanswered. The bench emphasized protecting public water resources over private gains.