The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRA) has removed nearly 5 acres of encroachments at Durgam Cheruvu, popularly known as the “Secret Lake,” near Inorbit Mall in Madhapur. The operation was conducted on Tuesday following complaints about illegal land grabbing and unauthorized commercial activities.
Officials discovered that encroachers had been filling the lake area with soil and operating it as a vehicle parking lot, allegedly collecting up to ₹50 lakhs in monthly rent. The parking facility was being used by school buses and vehicles from IT companies in the area.
HYDRA Commissioner AV Ranganath ordered the action after a complaint was published in Praja Vani newspaper highlighting the blatant encroachments. Following ground verification by departmental officials, HYDRA removed all vehicles from the site and erected temporary fencing to prevent further misuse.
The historic Durgam Cheruvu, which once supplied drinking water to the royal dynasty at Golconda Fort, has been steadily shrinking due to encroachments. The lake, originally spanning 160 acres, has now been reduced to just 116 acres.
Satellite images from NRSC reveal the progressive encroachment pattern over decades. By 1976, the lake had lost 29 acres, leaving 131.66 acres intact. The lake remained relatively secure until 1995. Between 1995 and 2000, another 10 acres were encroached upon, reducing it to 121 acres. From 2000 to present, an additional 5 acres have been lost.
The encroachment near Madhapur’s Inorbit Mall was carried out by filling the lake bed with soil excavated from nearby hill areas where apartment constructions are ongoing. The soil was dumped to depths of 10 to 15 meters, gradually extending into the lake’s Full Tank Level (FTL) boundary.
A public representative has reportedly claimed ownership of the encroached land within the lake’s FTL boundary, despite lacking proper land records. The encroachment has also obstructed plans to construct a walking track around the lake.
HMDA had determined the lake’s extent as 160.7 acres in a preliminary notification issued in 2014. HYDRA is currently working to ascertain the lake’s exact boundaries using data from NRSC, Survey of India, and revenue records while continuing its drive to remove encroachments.
