ELURU: Even as the state government is campaigning for protection of lakes and construction of rainwater harvesting pits, the Eluru Municipal Corporation (EMC) is filling up the century-old tanks with gravel to allow construction of commercial establishments.
The EMC already levelled the Venkanna Cheruvu at Southern Street in the guise of developing parks, and it now eyed the Motheyvaari Cheruvu in the 17th division of the city.
The Motheyvaari Cheruvu, which ages back to 100 years, is located in an extent of 4.23 acres at Pilhousepet on Kaikaluru Road. The tank has been constructed with stones and there are six ghats on six sides of it. The Mothey zamindars used it to bathe their elephants. However, after the zamindari system ended, the Eluru municipality took over the tank and leased it out to aquaculturists. The tank has water to the brim over the last decade, but aquaculture never came into existence.
Pasupuleti Lakshmaiah, a street vendor at Kaikaluru Road, recalled that the Motheyvaari Cheruvu was used for drinking water purposes in his childhood. In his six decade-long life, he never saw the tank dry up.
Following the instructions of Eluru MLA Badeti Kota Ramarao (Bujji), the municipal officials proposed to shift the fish market in the main bazaar at One-Town area to Motheyvaari Cheruvu and requested the district collector to convert the tank poramboke land into revenue land. But, the proposal was shelved after the fish traders opposed the move.
Recently, the Motheyvaari Cheruvu was filled with gravel and boulders in 50 feet length and 100 feet width, sans obtaining permission from either the district collector or the water users’ associations.
The EMC authorities are now making efforts to construct a commercial complex, to accommodate all meat shops in the city under a roof.
However, the locals are opposing the move, fearing water/air pollution. As per the Supreme Court directive, no water body should be encroached or used for any other purpose and should be utilised only as a water source.
When contacted, EMC commissioner Y Sai Srikanth told TNIE that filling up of Motheyvaari Cheruvu did not come to his notice. “We did not give permission to construct any structure in the tank area. We will initiate action against those taking up the works,” he warned.