Eco-friendly Hyderabad: HYDRAA pushes lake revival, encroachment removal
Urban water bodies are under severe threat from encroachments, Ranganath explained HYDRAA is removing illegal occupations around lakes and nala in Hyderabad
By Sistla Dakshina Murthy
Hyderabad: Urban water bodies are under severe threat from encroachments, A V Ranganath explained that HYDRAA is removing illegal occupations around lakes and nala
Hyderabad: HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath has emphasized that Hyderabad is on a transformative journey towards becoming an eco-friendly city.
Speaking at the “Policies and Strategies Towards Biophilic Urbanism” meet organized by the Institute of Town Planners of India (South Zone) here, he detailed HYDRAA’s multi-pronged initiatives to revive water bodies, safeguard public lands, and strengthen urban resilience.
Revival of lakes and flood management
The Commissioner highlighted that large-scale restoration of lakes is underway to rebuild the city’s chain of interconnected water bodies. These efforts, he said, will not only help mitigate floods but also improve the city’s ecological health and water balance.
Action against encroachments
Stating that urban water bodies are under severe threat from encroachments, Ranganath explained that HYDRAA is removing illegal occupations around lakes and nalas. Expansion works are being taken up to ensure sustainable growth while addressing the risks of urban flooding.
Focus on parks and green spaces
Ranganath pointed out that about 500 acres of government land have already been safeguarded. Several parks have been revived, and lakes across the city are being developed into eco-centers aimed at promoting both environmental protection and community well-being.
Urban planners join the dialogue
The meet saw active participation from town planning officials, architects, and engineers from different states, who discussed best practices and strategies for adopting biophilic urbanism and sustainable development models.
