Tech comes in handy to prevent illegal constructions; HYDRAA to receive real-time alerts

Hyderabad: Defining his role, HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath said their responsibility is not only to remove illegal constructions under Full Tank Level (FTL) but also to prevent new ones.

“There is no need to demolish houses to restore the lakes. Old FTL maps, tank memoirs, Survey of India (SoI) topology sheets, cadastral maps, and satellite images will be used to determine the lake and its FTL and buffer zones,” the HYDRAA Commissioner said.

Ranganath held a brainstorming session with a range of stakeholders here. Titled `Rejuvenation of Urban Lakes & Nalas Fixing of the FTL boundaries’, the session focused on the basics of lake identification, patta land regulations, and how to calculate a water body's full tank level (FTL).

Officials from the SoI, irrigation department, pollution control board, environmentalists, and experts deliberated about the resources that should be used for things like cadastral maps and SoI maps, as well as complicated issues pertaining to lakes and their revitalization.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that several layouts were submerged due to the closure of the Ameenpur Lake sluices. A survey would be conducted after considering the FTL of the lakes.

“The agency is demolishing only the structures constructed after obtaining false and canceled permits. Demolition will be carried out on unauthorized structures irrespective of their financial status. Everyone now knows what the HYDRAA does,” he said.

"People have gained awareness about FTL and buffer zones. There is also a discussion on it. Rejuvenating lakes is crucial for us. And we must implement some harsh measures during that process. Indeed, we are using harsh measures, but ultimately, our goal is to work for the betterment of the society,” Ranganath said.

The HYDRAA Commissioner noted that the agency will be submitting a counterpetition to have the court decision revoked about the resuscitation of Bathukamma Kunta Lake in Amberpet, adding that the goal is to stop the emergence of new constructions.

"The agency will use state-of-the-art technology to control illegal structures and will receive an alert if any illegal structure is built in the lake bed region," the HYDRAA chief said.

Apart from that, the agency will also establish an expert committee with the information to establish the tank limits after considering the water area in the tank and maps created by the SoI.

According to officials, the lake's maximum water level—where surplus levels, sluice levels, or other lake features are unaltered or reduced—will be regarded as FTL. They discussed how the lake's natural contour level had been altered and stated that they needed to work on returning it to its initial level. The resources utilized to ascertain the lake's FTL were also discussed.

Environmentalist BV Subba Rao noted the importance of lakes, pointing out that about 250 bird species disappear if one lake disappears. He called for developing a monitoring system for Sewage Treatment Plant (STPs), Effluent Treatment Plant (ETPs), and Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETPs).