Hyderabad: Every year, on the fourth Sunday of September, “World Rivers Day” is celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of water bodies and the need to protect them. This year, the event falls on September 22. To mark the occasion, the Forum for a Better Hyderabad (FBH), in collaboration with “World Rivers Day – Canada” and local civil society groups, organized a special walk along the southern bund of Shamirpet Lake in Medchal District.
Students from several educational institutions, including Government City College, Deccan Heritage Academy, JBR Architecture College, St. Patrick’s High School, Oxford Grammar School, and Sri Sai Vidya Niketan, participated in the event.
The program was led by Prof. Er Veda Kumar Manikonda, a member of the National Governing Council of INTACH, New Delhi. Other notable attendees included historian Dr. Dyawanavally Satyanarayana, Director of the Telangana Tribal Museum; Ravindra Reddy, Convenor of the Shamirpet Samrakshana Committee; water harvesting expert Subhash Reddy; and several environmentalists.
During the event, Veda Kumar emphasized that protecting rivers and water bodies is not just the government’s responsibility, but also that of civil society, organizations, and young people. He highlighted the historical importance of Shamirpet Lake, mentioning that it was a favorite sunset spot of the 6th Nizam, Mehboob Ali Pasha, and praised its unique rock formations.
A photo exhibition showcasing the beauty of Shamirpet Lake was also set up along the lake’s bank as part of the celebration.
