Save ORR water resources: Process begins to draft action plan; HYDRAA, HMDA, GHMC chip in

Hyderabad: Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has begun to draft an action plan to safeguard endangered and encroached water resources in Outer Ring Road (ORR) and Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) limits.

To take the initiative further, the HYDRAA has joined hands with the HMDA and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). Apart from removing encroachments, the HYDRAA has also laid a focus on preserving water resources and protecting government lands.

HYDRAA, established to protect water resources that are shrinking due to encroachment, is formulating long-term plans to protect the city's people from disasters, the officials said, and added that notices have been served to those constructed in buffer zones of the lakes.

HMDA has released Rs 59 crore to HYDRAA for the protection and fencing of six major lakes within the city limits. The full tank level (FTL) areas of those lakes are being identified, and structures within their boundaries are being removed.

This initiative focuses on restoring vital water bodies such as Batukamma Kunta in Amberpet, Bum-Rukn-ud-Daula in Shivrampally, Thammidi Kunta in Madhapur, Sunnam Cheruvu in Guttala Begumpet, Nalla Cheruvu in Kukatpally, and Nalla/Pedda Cheruvu in Uppal.

A total of 185 lakes have been identified in an area of 650 sq km within the GHMC limits. Initially, measures are being taken to protect them and officials have identified that the waterways leading into them have been encroached upon. The FTL areas of the lakes are identified and their boundaries are marked and action is being taken in advance without legal disputes.

The officials are estimating that if these lakes are preserved, most of the water logging problems in the city would be solved with a plan of action being drafted by the HYDRAA with the support of HMDA, GHMC and Revenue departments.

At present, the HMDA was spread in 7,257 sq.km and the officials have preliminarily identified 2,912 lakes (58,000 acres) spread across seven districts– Hyderabad (26), Medhcal-Malkajgiri (531), Ranga Reddy (865), Yadadri-Bhongir (238), Siddipet (282), Medak (483) and Sangareddy (487).

Of these, only 962 lakes have been officially notified so far, and these need to be identified and mapped for FTL. Ponds and lakes would be identified using the Revenue Village Map and the Reserve Survey Settlement Register (RSR) as a standard. It is known that the HMDA limits have been newly expanded to four more districts, and it would be extended up to the Regional Ring Road (RRR).

According to the expansion, there will be 104 mandals and 1,355 villages in 11 districts with a total area of 10,472 sq. km. Additionally, some villages in Vikarabad, Nagarkurnool, Mahabubnagar, and Nalgonda districts would be included in the HMDA. Details of the lakes in this area would also be collected and mapped, the officials said.