HYDRAA rejuvenates six lakes, prepares roadmap to save 14 more in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: After completing development works on six lakes, HYDRAA is preparing to rejuvenate 14 more water bodies in Hyderabad.

HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath said the agency has prepared a roadmap to revive 20 lakes in a bid to strengthen the city’s natural flood-management system.

Commissioner AV Ranganath announced that the agency

Citing the transformation of Bathukamma Kunta in Amberpet, a locality once prone to annual inundation but flood-free this year, he said that well-maintained lakes serve as critical buffers that protect neighbourhoods from stormwater overflow.

CSR participation crucial for environmental protection

Addressing the Society for Cyberabad Security Council conference, Ranganath said Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) support is essential to scale up environmental protection efforts. He stressed that Hyderabad’s sustainability depends on collective involvement from government, citizens and corporates.

Lake restoration shows tangible results in flood mitigation

Ranganath explained that strategic lake development not only enhances water storage but also reduces flooding during heavy rains. The Bathukamma Kunta example, he said, demonstrates how scientific lake management can prevent inundation in vulnerable localities.

Clearing encroachments key to solving urban flood hotspots

The Commissioner blamed rampant encroachments along nalas and drainage channels for recurring waterlogging. He said flood-prone zones could be permanently stabilised only through systematic clearing and restoration of waterways.

Patny Nala Restored; Ameerpet blockages cleared after CM intervention

Ranganath highlighted two major interventions:

Patny Nala, Secunderabad

The nala, originally 20 metres wide, had narrowed to just 5 metres due to encroachments, resulting in annual flooding across 27 colonies. After removal of obstructions and the widening of the nala, the area remained safe this monsoon.

Ameerpet–Maitrivanam Junction

At the Chief Minister’s direction, Hydra cleared nearly 150 truckloads of silt from blocked underground drains, resolving chronic waterlogging at one of the city’s busiest traffic corridors.

HYDRAA targets a Flood-Free, Safer City

The Commissioner stated that the civic body’s core mission is to prevent traffic disruptions, safeguard properties, and protect lives during monsoon events. With additional CSR support, he said, Hydra can significantly accelerate flood-control and environmental projects.

NRSC warning: Hyderabad has already lost 61% of its lakes

Presenting alarming data from the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Ranganath said 61% of Hyderabad’s lakes disappeared between 1975 and 2024. Without urgent conservation, all remaining lakes may vanish in the next 15 years. He emphasised the need for long-term planning to reverse this trend.

Addressing misinformation, strengthening long-term urban planning

Ranganath said encroachers and vested groups were attempting to spread misinformation about Hydra’s operations. Despite this, the civic body remains committed to creating sustainable, future-ready systems for the next generation.

Protecting parks, water bodies and mobility corridors

The Commissioner noted that HYDRAA is actively preserving parks, the city’s crucial green lungs, restoring and safeguarding lakes, which regulate floods, and clearing roadway encroachments to improve mobility and public safety.

He concluded that only through collective civic responsibility can Hyderabad achieve a safer, greener, and more resilient urban environment.