Warangal: Inspired by the success of the Disaster Response and Assets Protection (HYDRA) Agency, which has been actively demolishing illegal constructions in water tanks, efforts are underway to protect lakes and water bodies within the Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC) limits. HYDRA’s achievements have encouraged environmentalists and local groups to push for a similar agency in Warangal called Warangal Disaster Response and Assets Protection (WADRA).
There are around 170 lakes spread across 4,993.66 acres within the GWMC limits. Additionally, there are lakes in 42 villages that have recently been merged with the GWMC.
Officials have already begun surveying 75 lakes using drones equipped with Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) technology. This survey, conducted under the supervision of the Irrigation wing, aims to clearly mark the boundaries of the lakes. The data gathered will be compared with records from the Revenue and Land Survey departments to identify areas where land has been encroached upon.
According to available records, some of the prominent lakes in the region include Waddepally Lake, which covers 556.32 acres, Bhadrakali Lake with 495.89 acres, Rangasamudram Tank at 190.53 acres, Chinna Waddepally Tank covering 70.74 acres, Gundla cheruvu in Fort Warangal at 26.81 acres, and Bandham cheruvu, which spans 45.20 acres. Most of the other water bodies are smaller in size.
