Revanth Reddy inaugurates restored Thammidikunta Lake in Hyderabad

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday, November 11, inaugurated the restored Thammidikunta Lake in Hyderabad’s Madhapur, following the removal of encroachments and waste. He also said Phase I of the Musi River rejuvenation project would begin soon, seeking support for the government’s plans.

The lake, restored by the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), has been expanded to around 30 acres. More than 30,000 truckloads of silt, construction debris, plastic and other waste, including biomedical waste, were removed during the work. Its depth has increased from 0.6 metres to 4.6 metres, while its water storage capacity has risen eightfold to 370 million litres, according to HYDRAA Commissioner A V Ranganath.

The restored lake has a 1.6-km walking track, an open gym, a children’s play area, landscaped gardens and seating facilities. HYDRAA also reconstructed three inlets and an outlet to improve rainwater flow and diverted sewage through a 1,200-mm pipeline to prevent wastewater from entering the lake. The agency said the work would improve water storage, groundwater recharge and flood resilience in the surrounding areas. Ranganath also cited a National Environmental Engineering Research Institute report which found that groundwater levels in nearby areas had risen by 4.5 metres.

Addressing the gathering, Revanth Reddy said nearly half of the 1,372 lakes that once existed in Hyderabad had disappeared due to various reasons. He said encroachments had contributed to waterlogging in residential areas during heavy rains and described the restoration of water bodies as part of his vision for developing Hyderabad into a world-class city.

The Chief Minister also praised actor Akkineni Nagarjuna for voluntarily handing over two acres of land to the government for the lake’s restoration. There seems to have been a reconciliation between the government and the actor as HYDRAA had demolished Nagarjuna’s N Convention Centre in August 2024 over alleged encroachments into the lake’s Full Tank Level (FTL) and buffer zone.

Revanth Reddy said the restored lake would be developed as a tourism destination and cultural centre, with the government seeking to create a ‘lake economy’ around it. He also proposed planting a Jammi tree on the premises and holding Dussehra celebrations there. Nagarjuna, who attended the inauguration, thanked HYDRAA for the restoration and said he would like to shoot his next film at the lake.

Turning to the Musi project, Revanth Reddy said the government intended to rejuvenate the entire river, rather than focus only on its beautification. He said pollution in the river was affecting people in Nalgonda district and appealed to political parties to support the initiative. He also assured that people affected by the project would receive proper relief.

The Chief Minister said the government was committed to removing encroachments along the river as part of the rejuvenation work. He instructed HYDRAA officials and the police to take necessary measures to ensure safety and security at the restored lake.