HYDRAA backs Katora House restoration in Golconda
HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) will extend full cooperation for the restoration and protection of the historic Katora House water body located inside the Golconda Fort complex, HYDRAA Commissioner A V Ranganath said on Wednesday.
450-year-old water body under ASI protection
The commissioner said the reservoir, which has a history spanning about 450 years, is under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India. He welcomed the initiative taken by Nirmaan NGO to conserve the historic water structure.
Ranganath conducted a field inspection of Katora House following a request to support efforts aimed at restoring it to its original condition. Officials from the archaeology department and Kalpana Ramesh, who is overseeing the works on behalf of Nirmaan NGO, briefed him on the steps being taken to protect the water body.
Fencing, pathway and sewage diversion proposed
The team informed the commissioner that plans include installing high fencing to prevent dumping of waste into the tank and developing a pathway around it. They also sought HYDRAA’s assistance in providing an alternative to an existing sewage pipeline that currently passes through the historic water body.
The NGO representatives said development works were facing repeated obstacles on the ground and added that restoration of Katora House to its past condition would be possible with HYDRAA’s support. They requested that the agency’s experience in reviving historic lakes be utilised for the project.
The commissioner assured full support for the restoration of the reservoir and said fencing would be taken up. He stressed that conservation of historic water bodies was essential and asked the NGO and archaeology officials to submit reports on the programmes undertaken for the site’s development.
