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Lakes of the city: Mothukulla Kunta
Lakes of the City: Mothukulla Kunta. Mothukulla Kunta is located in Macha Bolarum village, Malkajigiri Mandal. It is covered under the Hyderabad Metropolitan Authority’s (HMDA) Lake Protection Committee.
Mothukulla Kunta is located in Macha Bolarum village, Malkajigiri Mandal. It is covered under the Hyderabad Metropolitan Authority’s (HMDA) Lake Protection Committee. The lake was surveyed in 2013 and according to that report, the water spread area is about 7 acres, the full tank level area is 11 acres and its bund length is 282 metres.
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The kunta was once used to provide water for agriculture and was a source for drinking water for the locals. The lake was also famous for fishing activity in those days. The lake is 15 km away from Secunderabad Railway Station and 40 km from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.
History
According to the locals, the kunta has been in existence since the Nizam era. It was used to conserve water coming down from high altitude areas in the monsoon. The water was used for irrigation, cultivation and drinking water needs of the locals and those from the surrounding villages. Also, it was a source for livelihood for the fishing community (Gangaputrulu). The name of the lake is said to be derived from Mothukulla, a surname of the Reddy communities who were landlords that lived here long ago.
Problems
The lake bed and its buffer zone have been encroached upon and illegal constructions have come up. These include a dhobi ghat which exceeds the limits sanctioned by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).
The lake has a layer of floating garbage and is polluted with sewage from nearby colonies and industrial effluents. The fencing laid by the GHMC to prevent encroachments was removed.
Saha Dev, president of the Sai Reddy Nagar Resident Welfare Society, said, “The kunta once conserved rain water. Now it has turned into a cesspool. There aren’t any fish anymore. The lake itself has become a breeding spot for mosquitoes.”
“Though the kunta was identified by the Lake Protection Committee of the HMDA, the work related to cleansing and dredging is yet to be taken up. The government’s Mission Kakatiya (Mana Ooru Mana Cheruvu) is a welcome option and works must be taken up immediately to restore the lake’s glory,” Dev said.
Irrigation minister T Harish Rao had said that the survey pertaining to 7,212 tanks was completed out of the 9,662 tanks identified for restoration this year. Tenders have been called for only 1,143 tanks so far and instructions have been given to the concerned authorities to speed up the tender process.
By Ch Saibaba
