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Land sharks in lakes & tanks
At a time when water bodies and tanks in the villages are being restored in a big way under the ‘Mission Kakatiya’ programme, natural water bodies (resources) are facing extinction in almost all urban local bodies (ULBs), barring GHMC, across the state.
Encroachments, poor maintenance and lack of funds for revival of these bodies were the main reasons for the tanks to be 'abandoned', which were the main source for drinking water in many municipalities
Hyderabad: At a time when water bodies and tanks in the villages are being restored in a big way under the ‘Mission Kakatiya’ programme, natural water bodies (resources) are facing extinction in almost all urban local bodies (ULBs), barring GHMC, across the state.
Encroachments, poor maintenance and lack of funds for revival of these bodies in the last decade were found to be the main reasons for the tanks to be 'abandoned', which were earlier used for drinking water purposes. About 230 water bodies were existing in 67 ULBs in Telangana state.
In Ranga Reddy district alone, which accounts for the highest number of tanks, the size of all 54 water bodies has been reduced to 'marshy' and 'sewerage ' pond state, following large scale encroachment by land sharks.
These facts were uncovered in a joint study done recently by the state irrigation, municipal administration and urban development departments on the existence of water bodies and utilisation of tanks in all ULBs.
The study disclosed that these tanks, utilised as one of the main sources for drinking water supply, were also a source of maintaining ecological balance in the municipalities. These tanks have now become 'non- dependable' for civic needs.
In Medak district, which has the second highest number of water bodies - 46, they too have remained neglected due to official apathy. In Gajwel municipality (from where Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has been elected), 17 of the 23 tanks were dysfunctional.
Removal of silt has been stopped and the bunds have become weak as government was not serious on their revival. The total number of tanks in Mahabubnagar is 39, followed by Khammam (25), Adilabad (16), Nalgonda (15), Karimnagar (12), Warangal (8) and Nizamabad (6).
In the last ten years, Rs 50 crore was spent on the strengthening of these tanks in urban areas. Most of the funds were utilised for the construction of bunds around the water bodies. In several municipalities, works could not be taken up due to paucity of funds. In some cases, encroachment hindered the strengthening of these tanks as cases were pending in various courts.
A detailed report on the status of water bodies has been sent to the Chief Minister. On the instruction of the CM, Irrigation and MA&UD departments are preparing an action plan for the revival of encroached and redundant water bodies and make them a source of water to meet the demand in municipalities.
