To address the issue of shrinking lakes in Hyderabad, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has decided to take up restoration of 20 water bodies in the city.
The Hindu reported that the 20 water bodies would be revived at an estimated cost of Rs. 401.98 crore.
It was reported that the proposal has been sent to the state government on Thursday, for approval by the GHMC Standing Committee.
As per the state government’s plan, all 24 assembly constituencies of GHMC should have at least one lake.
According to The New indian Express, a few days ago, Minister for irrigation T Harish Rao and Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development KT Rama Rao, reportedly said that Mission Kakatiya needs to be implemented even in urban areas.
The implementation should have a different perspective and must be under a different name - ‘Restoration and Comprehensive Development of Urban Lakes’, the ministers added.
A study titled ‘Documenting disappearing water bodies of Hyderabad City’, has revealed that a total of 27 lakes and kuntas under Himayat Sagar, Umda Sagar and Miralam Tank systems have vanished between 1978 and 2013.
The study also reportedly said that water in the existing 22 lakes and tanks in the cascade of the Himayatsagar Lake, has reduced by over 40% between 1978 to 2017.
While, eight such lakes are now on the verge of extinction, four have disappeared.
The Hindu, quoted the study as claiming that as many as 27 water bodies within the Umda Sagar cascade, have reportedly come down from 236 hectares in 1978 to 134 hectares in 2017.
Meanwhile, 14 lakes in Saroornagar mandal, have disappeared due to rapid urbanisation, while two are on the verge of disappearing.