Disposed

News Item Titled "Hyderabad Pond Filled With for Walking Track Marked as Development Under Csr Initiative" Appearing in the Hindu Dated 24.06.2025. vs

NGT7 Jul 2025Original Application No. 322/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The Tribunal entertained a suo motu application based on a news report regarding the artificial filling of a natural lake in Hyderabad for a walking track, citing violations of environmental laws and transferring the matter to the Southern Zonal Bench.

What did the court decide?

Notice issued to respondents; Original Application transferred to Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai.

News Item Titled "Hyderabad Pond Filled With for Walking… — Environment and Pollution | NGT (2025)

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Item No. 05

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Court No. 1

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BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI

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Original Application No. 322/2025

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News Item titled "Hyderabad Pond filled with for walking track marked as development under CSR initiative" appearing in the Hindu dated 24.06.2025.

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Date of hearing: 07.07.2025

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CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PRAKASH SHRIVASTAVA, CHAIRPERSON HON’BLE DR. A. SENTHIL VEL, EXPERT MEMBER

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ORDER

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This original application is registered suo motu on the basis of the news item titled "Hyderabad Pond filled with for walking track marked as development under CSR initiative" appearing in the Hindu dated 24.06.2025.

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The news item relates to the pollution of a natural lake in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, which was filled to create a walking track under a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. As per the article, large amounts of debris have been dumped into what was once a water body, clearly to make way for the walking track. Mud mixed with sewage is being dredged and piled nearby, while a motor pump works to remove the dirty water from the area. The article also mentions that two pipes, each 900 mm in diameter, protrude from the dumped earth at different locations—one to channel fresh rainwater into the pond and the other to drain excess water. The article further mentions that, wherever trees obstruct the construction of the walking track, they are being uprooted using an excavator, which is also used to fill and level the inside of the pond. Additionally, a 15-20-foot-wide stormwater drain near the road to Jubilee Hills Check-post, which once supplied water to the lake, is now defunct, heavily littered, overgrown with weeds, and encroached upon. According to the article, the Lake Protection Committee (LPC) under the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority

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(HMDA) does not have this lake listed in its database of notified lakes. Despite GHMC officials being aware of the water body’s existence, no efforts have been made to include it in the list or to mark its full tank level.

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The above matter indicates violation of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Telangana Preservation of Tanks and Lakes Act, 2003.

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The news item raises substantial issues relating to compliance with the environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of scheduled enactment.

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Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter suo-motu has been recognized by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of “Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors.” reported in 2021 SCC Online SC 897 .

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Hence, we implead the following as respondents in the matter:

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(1). Central Pollution Control Board, through its Member Secretary, Parivesh Bhawan, East Arjun Nagar, Delhi-110032.

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(2). Telangana Pollution Control Board, through its Member Secretary, A-3, Paryavaran Bhavan, Sanath Nagar Rd, Sanath Nagar Industrial Estate, Sanath Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500018.

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(3). District Magistrate, Hyderabad 6-2-10, Lakdikapul, Hyderabad, 500004

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(4). Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, through its Commissioner, CC Complex Tank Bund Road, Lower Tank Bund, Hyderabad 500063.

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Issue notice to the above respondents for filing their response/reply

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by way of affidavit before the Southern Zonal Bench of the Tribunal at least

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one week before the next date of hearing. If any respondent directly files the reply without routing it through his advocate, then the said respondent will remain virtually present to assist the Tribunal.

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Since the matter falls within the jurisdiction of Southern Zonal Bench of the Tribunal, therefore, the OA is transferred to the Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai for appropriate further action. Let the original record of the OA be transferred to Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai.

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List before Southern Zonal Bench at Chennai on 08.09.2025.

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Prakash Shrivastava, CP Dr. A. Senthil Vel, EM

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July 07, 2025 Original Application No. 322/2025 dv

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News Item Titled "Hyderabad Pond Filled With for Walking Track Marked as Development Under Csr Initiative" Appearing in the Hindu Dated 24.06.2025. vs

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

News Item Titled "Hyderabad Pond Filled With for Walking Track Marked as Development Under Csr Initiative" Appearing in the Hindu Dated 24.06.2025. vs

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

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