After years of neglect, Nallacheruvu all set to get facelift

​Mahbubnagar: Nallacheruvu Tank in Jadcherla mandal of Mahbubnagar district, ignored by authorities for long, is all set to get a makeover, if the recent visit of Health Minister C Laxma Reddy to the tank is any indication.

Located in the heart of Badepally Municipality, Nallacheruvu Tank has been abandoned since long ago and most part of the lake have been encroached by locals. The vast lake that spread across more than 10 acres has been shrunk to just 2-3 acres. The remaining part of the lake is full of filth as it has become dumping ground of the entire city’s waste.

With several houses being constructed around the lake, all rivulets that bring water to the lake have been blocked. It is now filled with only drain water from the surrounding households which emanates foul smell. It has become breeding ground for pigs and misquotes causing grave health hazard to the people of Badepally.

Having learned about the growing encroachment and ever shrinking size of the lake, recently Health Minister and local MLA Dr C Laxma Reddy visited the lake along with District Collector Ronald Rose and promised to renovate the entire lake into a beautiful Mini-Tank Bund.

In fact, two-three decades ago, the Nallacheruvu was the main source of drinking water for the entire Badepally town. However, over the time, as the population of the town has increased and more and more encroachments took place, the feeding channels were totally blocked and the lake slowly dried up. With growing population and rising concrete structures around the lake, most of the house drain was let into the lake.

“During the past three decades no government had taken cognisance of the lake and never initiated any step to protect the lake. It is because of the apathy of municipal officials and lack of proper planning of the town planning officials, the lake has become a dumping ground for the entire city. I am thankful that Dr Laxma Reddy has at last taken cognisance of the lake and come forward for developing it as a Mini Tank Bund. If this is implemented, then Badepally will become a beautiful town,” said Ramachandra Nayak, a resident Badepally.

At present, there are hundreds of houses constructed on the banks of Nallacheruvu Lake. All these houses have completely occupied the tank bund area. Now with the Minister’s intervention, all these houses will be shifted to other places.

By renovating the lake, the Health Minister promised to change the total outlook of the entire lake and said he would spend Rs 75 lakh from Badepally municipality funds and another Rs 40 lakh would be provided from Mission Kakatiya funds. If necessary, he would also allocate funds from other sources to make Nallacheru a beautiful lake with gardens, walking tracks and railings all across the bund.

The Minister also promised to provide double-bedroom houses to all those who have been living on the lake’s bund area. “All the affected people will be given double-bedroom houses and I shall also give some part of my patta land attached to the Nallacheruvu Lake to those who are displaced. We have already initiated works on Nallacheruvu and in the next three months we will carry out the de-silting works and ensure that no drainage water flows into the lake. With this Badepally Municipality will have a total facelift,” informed the Health Minister.