9 lakes vanish without a trace

All lakes encroached: GHMC Survey confirms

• HMDA uploads details of the survey on its website
• 30 acres of Durgam Cheruvu encroached
• GHMC to raze down the encroachments

After much criticism from people and environmentalists, a survey was undertaken to mark Full Tank Level (FTL) and buffer limits of the lakes in the city by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). According to the survey, most of the lakes in the city were encroached by religious structures, function halls, stadiums, parks, residential houses, etc. One of the most startling revelations in the survey was that nine lakes vanished without a trace and about 30 acres of Durgam Cheruvu were encroached.

In fact, Hyderabad Hans has been running a campaign against encroachments and bad condition of the city lakes for some time now. Besides encroachments, the lakes have become dumping places for garbage and breeding pools for mosquitoes. Industries around the grabbed land have been discharging the effluents into the lakes which have become a health hazard to the citizens. The survey was jointly undertaken by the GHMC, Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) and the revenue department on a directive from the Telangana government.

The survey was done on 169 lakes in Greater Hyderabad limits and corporation officials have prepared reports on 150 lakes so far. According to the reports all the lakes in the city have been encroached. These reports have been uploaded on the HMDA website.

“We will take inputs and suggestions from the public and even objections, if there are any. The final notification would be released only after taking into account all the suggestions. We will not spare the encroachers,” informed a senior official with the HMDA.

Another revelation from the survey was that most of the lakes were contaminated with pollutants from drains and industrial wastes. The officials have also mapped the measures required to protect the lakes. These include:

• Base map of every lake has to be prepared
• The Full Tank Level (FTL) of lakes should be barricaded
• In the buffer zone surrounding the lakes walkways have to be constructed and plantations should be undertaken
• Storm water drains have to be constructed in the catchment areas so that rainwater enters the lakes
• Have to ensure that domestic and industrial wastes shouldn’t enter lakes
• Permissions for the constructions shouldn’t be given without clearance from irrigation department

GHMC Commissioner Somesh Kumar said that the corporation would crack the whip on encroachers.

“We have indentified the FTL limits and the buffer zone of 169 lakes. We would ensure that these lakes wouldn’t be encroached further and would raze down the encroachments,” he informed.

List of the few lakes encroached

Name of the lake Area Type of Encroachments
Durgam Cheruvu Madhapur Commercial Constructions
Mukkidi Cheruvu Malkajgiri Rythu Bazaar
Kotha Cheruvu Alwal Drains
Vennela Cheruvu Jeedimetla Primary School
Mogulla Kunta Kompally Public toilets
Pedda Cheruvu Mansurabad Religious Constructions
Fox Sagar Jeedimetla Religious Constructions
Mantrala Cheruvu Jillelaguda Religious Constructions
Malayya Kunta Chandanagar Domestic Constructions
Bakshi Kunta Chandanagar Multi-storied Buildings
Lingam Kunta Chandanagar Domestic Constructions
Uura Cheruvu Kompally Commercial Constructions
Chinna Cheriuvu Gopanpally Domestic Constructions
Gurram Cheruvu Bandlaguda Roads


Lakes that have vanished
Name of the lake Area Type of Encroachments
Ramantha Cheruvu Tara Nagar Domestic Constructions
Vadla Kunta Tara Nagar PJR Stadium
Kotha Cheruvu Tara Nagar Cemetery
Bandam Kunta Nanakramguda CK Convention Centre
Samala Kunta Ameerpet Shopping Complex
Cheruva Kunta Yousufguda Krishna Kanth Park
Taadla Kunta Meerpet Domestic Constructions
Samala Kunta Sanathnagar Park
Barrenkala Kunta Mamidipally Domestic Constructions