The ongoing demarcation exercise across 455 lakes in the Hyderabad region (falling within the outer ring road) would provide a clear picture on the level of encroachment. It expects to complete this by next year, according to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA).
"Clarity on the exact boundaries of lake would help us identify the level of encroachment and also control the activity," said RP Khajuria, member (environment), HMDA.
Having completed the field work and the subsequent full tank-level (FTL) demarcation for 360 lakes within the ORR region in coordination with the state irrigation department, HMDA is now working on the final phase land surveying in tune with the revenue department records.
This would enable it to know the original boundary position of these lakes.
However, HMDA is awaiting the entire process to complete before it can initiate the anti-encroachment drive. For the field work, it has teamed up with Merss RV as its consultant.
HMDA plans to follow similar approach for the remaining 2,400 under its jurisdiction. "The tenders for field work of the remaining 2,400 lakes have been floated by us," said Khajuria.
In the FTL-demarcated 260 lakes in the ORR, it has embarked upon the beautification and protection. "As part of this, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has been assigned 128 lakes, the HMDA -- 80 and the irrigation department 50 lakes," said Khajuria. The state government had allocated necessary funds for this, he added.
Interestingly, the responsibility of rejuvenated water bodies would ultimately be assigned to the local resident welfare associations. "We expect associations to take the lead in maintaining the health of lakes," he said. HMDA is calling them -- The Lake Protection Groups (LPGs).
Corporate organisations interested in lake adoption can join the LPGs in a locality. "If these groups have any plans to develop the lakes further, they can come forward and apply with the HMDA for approval," he said.
Responding to various claims made by civil society groups in the city on encroachments, he said:" The civil groups are mostly concerned about 20-30 lakes within the core Hyderabad area. The encroachments here are a big challenge for us."
Ten years ago, the erstwile Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) had notified 501 lakes under its jurisdiction. According to the latest list prepared by the HMDA, around 46 of these have been placed outside the ORR. The HMDA area covers 7,000 sq km extending into neighbouring Rangareddy, Medak, Mahbubnagar and Nalgonda districts of the Telangana region.
