Lotus Pond Lakes of the city

Lotus Pond is a beautiful water body inside the MLA Colony which is located between Jubilee Hills and Film Nagar. The pond and its park is spread over 12 acres and is protected by a compound wall and is under continuous surveillance of the security staff. Kalinga and other trees mark the 1.5 kilometer walkway inside the park. There is also a Tapovanam for the public to meditate along with a small devi temple in the premises.

The Lotus Pond was conceived to be an eco-conservation project and is home to more than 20 species of birds like pied kingfisher, white wagtail, common moorhen, little grebe, sun birds, common coot little egret etc. Many bird watchers, photographers and morning walkers visit the place which is surrounded by the residents of prominent personalities like YSR chief Jagan Mohan Reddy and actor Daggubati Rana.

History

According to the park visitors, it is said that the pond was formed naturally before the Nizam era which had a lot of lotus flowers blomming in it. This was a rare phenomenon. When the city started expanding in 1975 and houses started coming up close to the pond, drain water started flowing into it which destroyed the habitat. Now there are hardly lotuses in the pond nor there is pure water.

Still the water is home to aquatic species like cat fish (marpu ), maral (korra matta) and a few tortoise. On November 20, 1999, the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH) started constructing a compound wall to protect the lake which was completed in late 2001. The Lotus Pond remains opens 6 am to 10 am and from 4 pm to 6 pm.

Problems

Forest range officer R Venkatiah said that a few months ago underground drainage pipelines were laid by the authorities outside the lake but the replaced pipelines were discarded on the road which poses an inconvenience to the walkers. “Moreover rainwater remains stagnant on the roads. The bund which was built to prevent the seepage of sewage water now has developed cracks leading to the pollution of lake.

The water is being cleaned daily using mechanised boating which is in a deplorable condition. Desilting works needs to be taken up to increase the volume of water in catchment area,” he said. M Janardhana Rao, a senior citizen, said that he has been using the park for the last 20 years. “The view point bridge walkway is broken which can injure people and there is a possibility of the breakdown of sleepers. This clearly indicates the lackadaisical attitude of authorities concerned. There is an urgent need to replace and strengthen the bridge,” he rued.

By:Ch Saibaba