Don’t whitewash history of Sunnam Cheruvu as lake fights for survival
In Short
Urban expansion, sewage inflows and land changes threaten historic water body
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Don’t whitewash history of Sunnam Cheruvu as lake fights for survival
Hyderabad: Nestled between the bustling IT corridor of Madhapur and the densely populated stretches of Borabanda and Allapur, Sunnam Cheruvu stands as a striking testament to the rapid urban transformation of Hyderabad.
Originally serving as a serene, rainwater-fed reservoir spanning between 24 and 32 acres during the Nizam era and into the early 1990s, the lake’s long history highlights the challenging balance between rapid real estate growth, community-led initiatives, and evolving municipal management across the region.
Throughout the 1990s, the water body functioned as an essential local resource maintained under the direct supervision of the Panchayat Raj Department alongside district revenue authorities. However, as commercial development expanded rapidly across the Cyberabad zone in the late 1990s and early 2000s, real estate values in the surrounding areas increased dramatically. This mounting demographic and infrastructure pressure led to significant drainage challenges, structural bund degradation, and gradual expansion onto land around the designated Full Tank Level boundaries.
In response to these civic hurdles, organised local groups intervened to protect the environment. Official administrative records indicate that formal requests were submitted to authorities seeking permission to repair and secure the protective bund using private funds.
Consequently, the Panchayat Raj Division granted official authorisation to the Hari Co-operative Housing Society, headed by its president J Raghu Raj Goud, allowing the organisation to carry out essential bund maintenance and structural restoration at their own expense under strict technical guidance.
These sustained local efforts aimed to reinforce the perimeter of the lake while safeguarding key cultural sites, including the Sri Sri Sri Matha Katta Maisamma Devasthanam located along its bank.
Over the following decade, consecutive administrative bodies continually responded to public requests regarding urban infrastructure, land management, and environmental protection throughout the Borabanda–Allapur sector. Following the transfer of administrative control from regional urban development bodies to unified municipal authorities during 2007–2008, uncontrolled sewage inflows and land alterations reduced the active water surface to nearly 15 acres by 2013.
After the state reorganization in 2014, government bodies prioritised lake preservation within broader environmental programmes.
Municipal departments undertook comprehensive boundary surveys and constructed protective perimetre fencing around Sunnam Cheruvu’s demarcated boundaries, helping prevent further unauthorised construction and securing the remaining water spread for future conservation.
