The School Education Department on Friday informed the bench of Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar of the High Court that a school being run by Fatima Educational Institution at Patelnagar in Bandlaguda abutting Salkam cheruvu in Hyderabad had no permission from it. 

The department counsel, appearing in a writ petition seeking direction to remove illegal encroachments in Full Tank Level (FTL) area of Salkam cheruvu, said the premises was being used for facilitating/accommodating students who were studying in other educational institutions which had acquired government permission.  

The petition was filed by HC advocate Vijay Gopal seeking different reliefs - including removal of every structure (educational institution buildings) that were built illegally within FTL area of Salkam cheruvu. The counsel for Irrigation department informed the bench that they had received instructions from the higher-ups to re-conduct survey of the FTL. 

The bench sought to know from the counsel why the fresh survey was required when already the authorities had defined the FTL area of the river body. The petitioner and advocate Vijay Gopal, meanwhile, submitted documents to the bench in support of his contention that the total area of the water body was around 36 acres and belonged to the government. 

The advocate told the court that he had secured the ‘pahani’ copy from the Revenue department of Bandlaguda Tehsildar office in which it was clearly stated that the 36 acres of land covering Salkam cheruvu belonged to the government. He insisted that the HYDRAA officials should take action in the matter in the backdrop of the facts. 

The HYDRAA counsel informed the bench that it was yet to receive information and complete details from the all the government departments concerned in the matter.

Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar, who directed the authorities to conduct enquiry against all the erring officers who failed to check construction of buildings for the educational institution with FTL area of the water body, posted the hearing to July 9 for adjudication.