HMDA to protect AND beautify 23 more lakes

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) plans to protect 23 more lakes, besides the 2,857 lakes that were identified. The civic body’s Lake Protection Committee has notified the 23 lakes and sought objections and suggestions on the full tank level (FTL) boundary maps and buffer zones of these lakes.

The committee has identified 2,857 lakes in the HMDA area, of which 168 are located in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation’s (GHMC) jurisdiction and the rest were identified in adjoining gram panchayats and municipalities. With the services of consultants and in coordination with the irrigation and the revenue department staff, demarcation of nearly 512 lakes has been completed. After verification and certification by the irrigation department with details of revenue survey numbers, the HMDA has been notifying lakes in a phased manner for public information, suggestions and comments. So far 415 lakes were notified in 12 phases.

Now 23 more water bodies, for which mapping of full tank level boundaries and buffer zones is completed, have been notified. In 2012, orders issued by the State government restricted building and development activity in the FTL of lakes. The government has further pushed the agenda to preserve the lakes with a campaign to remove encroachments in the tank beds and issued orders to demolish illegal constructions.