'61% Hyderabad’s lakes have disappeared' : HYDRAA boss Ranganath sounds alarm

Hyderabad: Protecting and rejuvenating Hyderabad’s interconnected lake system is critical to safeguarding the city from recurring urban floods, HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath said on Friday.

He was addressing a high-level conference on monsoon preparedness for 2025.

Rainwater must be directed into lakes

Speaking at the two-day disaster management seminar at the Marri Chenna Reddy Human Resource Development Institute, Ranganath emphasized the need to ensure rainwater reaches lakes via functional stormwater drains. “Only through a well-connected chain of lakes can we effectively manage and mitigate flood risks,” he said.

Urbanization threatens natural water bodies

Ranganath warned that unregulated urban growth has led to widespread encroachments on lakes and drainage channels, increasing flood risk. Data from the National Remote Sensing Centre reveals that 61 percent of Hyderabad’s lakes have disappeared.

“If we fail to protect the remaining 39 percent, the city will face severe natural disasters that could be beyond our control,” he cautioned.

Lakes are natural flood buffers

Citing recent urban floods in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi, the Commissioner highlighted the role of lakes as natural buffers. “A one-acre lake with a one-meter depth can store up to four million liters of water,” he noted, stressing the importance of preserving larger water bodies across the city.

Action Plan: FTL mapping and desilting

HYDRAA is actively identifying and demarcating Full Tank Level (FTL) boundaries to curb further encroachments. Desilting operations are also underway to enhance lake depth and water storage capacity.

Storm drains under threat

The HYDRAA Commissioner noted that many of the city’s primary and secondary stormwater drains have disappeared. In contrast, third- and fourth-level drains are heavily encroached upon and constricted, severely impacting rainwater flow.

Lessons from Bengaluru’s flood response

Ranganath referred to Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s directive to remove encroachments on storm drains in flood-affected Bengaluru, urging Hyderabad to take preemptive action before a similar crisis unfolds.

Public participation is key

Concluding his remarks, Ranganath appealed to residents to actively support the state government’s lake conservation initiatives. “Government action alone is not enough — community involvement is essential to build long-term resilience against climate-driven disasters,” he said.