Malkam Cheruvu on verge of extinction?

Malkam Cheruvu on verge of extinction?
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Highlights

The Lake Protection authorities have been turning a blind eye to Malkam Cheruvu of Raidurgam which has been on the verge of death due to rapid encroachments. 

Hyderabad: The Lake Protection authorities have been turning a blind eye to Malkam Cheruvu of Raidurgam which has been on the verge of death due to rapid encroachments.

The residents in the vicinity have been polluting the lake by letting sewerage into the lake. The Malkam cheruvu which was nearly 43 acres has now shrunk to 30 acres.

Malkam cheruvu is one of the oldest lakes and is well known for fishing.Currently, about 30 per cent of the lake has been covered by hyacinth and another 30 per cent encroached.

The main reason for the weeds growing in the lakes is the sewerage water let into it. This has been resulting in depletion of groundwater levels.

Lake protection and water management expert BV Subba Rao said that the lakes in the city are not getting enough attention from the government and today we are facing a serious situation.

He further said government is taking only temporary measures; but should come up with Sewerage Treatment Plan (STP) to protect the lakes.

The government should commence the biological initiation that controls nitrates and phosphates and should be promoted to bring awareness among the people, expert said.

The President of Fishing Cooperative Society of Raidurgam, Sudhakar said that fishing at Raidurgam Lake has stopped since three years because many fish are dying due to the pollution.

Polluted water from Durgam Cheruvu is affecting Malkam Cheruvu but the officials are not taking any measures to divert the polluted water. Even locals complain about the polluted groundwater.

With summer fast approaching, they will have to depend on water tankers and not the bore well in the area.

Dr Lubna Sarwath from SOUL said that the lake is highly polluted because the out flow channels of chemical water from Durgam Cheruvu and sewerage are the inflow channels of Malkam Cheruvu.

However, according to the environmental standards, the inflow channel has to be kept open so that polluted water does not enter.

She further said the pollutant inflow into the lake should be immediately stopped, lake has to be cleaned and hyacinth should be removed.

More than Rs. 3 crore has been allocated by the GHMC for the beautification of the lakes, but none of the problems are addressed and the lake is shrinking and stinking, adds Lubna Sarwath.

When contacted about the same with the lake protection officer of GHMC, “Efforts were being made to clean the Raidurgam Lake to tackle the problem of pollution. It would take at least another six months before tangible results could be seen,” he added.

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