Hyderabad is seeing rapid efforts to restore its lakes, led by the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA). By December, five city lakes are set to be rejuvenated.
The first phase includes Sunnam Cheruvu, Tammidikunta Cheruvu, Kukatpally Nalla Cheruvu, Uppal Nalla Cheruvu, Bum-Rukh-Ud-Daula Lake, and Bathukamma Kunta. This project, worth Rs 58.50 crore, has already seen the completion of Bathukamma Kunta, inaugurated by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. Work on Bum-Rukh-Ud-Daula, Kukatpally Nalla Cheruvu, and Thummidi Kunta is progressing swiftly, targeting early December for completion. Meanwhile, Uppal and Sunnam Cheruvu are set to finish by year-end.
During the restoration, HYDRAA encountered challenges. Work at Bathukamma Kunta paused briefly due to legal issues but resumed after a resolution. Residents at Bum-Rukh-Ud-Daula Lake claimed land within the lake area. HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath promised eligible residents Transferable Development Rights (TDR) facilitated by the government.
Encroachments posed issues at Kukatpally Nalla Cheruvu and Thummidi Kunta, but demolitions cleared the way for restoration. Now, locals are pleased with the beautification progress.
Once these six lakes are finished, HYDRAA aims to restore more lakes citywide. The Commissioner has already met with officials from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), and the Irrigation Department to plan the next phase.
