Lakes, footpaths and now Masjids, Hyderabad encroachers leave nothing to fate

Encroachment is a peristent issue in Hyderabad. Earlier, there were issues of illegal encroachment underneath bridges and flyovers or the footpath, then there were lakes that became the target of industrial encroachers. In pre-monsoon and post-monsoon studies conducted by civil society activists and researchers in the year 2012, it was found that eight lakes have disappeared in three decades and the situation of the rest 10 lakes is getting grimmer by the day. 

While Telangana is still dealing with this situation, another sensitive crisis is brewing up in Hitech City at the Masjid-e-Alamgeer at Khanamet, indicating the unstable law and order situation in the state. In a recent report by a renowned newspaper, the residents of the area have alleged that illegal construction had begun at the site, despite police notice and intervention in an earlier case. The residents said that construction was stopped at an earlier stage when encroachers dug the ground to lay cellar. But, now they have started building the pillars and iron rods have been raised by the encroachers. 

A resident of the area, under condition of anonymity said, "The encroachment on the Mosque land was going on earlier and was dug to lay the foundation. But with the intervention of Wakf board and revenue department the works were halted. Lately when I was returning after the morning prayers I noticed that the works were again in progress and this time iron rods were erected on the foundation pillar.”

Reacting to the development, the chairman of the Wakf board said, "At first when the encroachment was going on we took the help of police and revenue department to halt the works, however the matter went to court and the court ordered status quo. Even the chief minister of Telangana has promised us to safeguard the land from encroachers. But if the encroachers have beg-un the works again we will immediately look into the matter.”

Moreover, an official from the revenue department said, "If there is some illegal activity going on the land than it’s the responsibility of Wakf board to protect it. There is a status quo order from the high court about the land.” 

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• encroachment