Saroor Nagar Lake to be restored for flood control
HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency will take up full-scale restoration of Saroor Nagar Lake, Commissioner A V Ranganath said on January 21. The project will be designed to aid flood control, with works set to begin after government approvals.
Restoration limited to existing lake area
Ranganath said Saroor Nagar Lake originally spread across more than 140 acres, but residential development has come up over a large portion. He clarified that no action would be taken against existing habitations and that restoration would be confined to the remaining 90 acres.
The Chief Minister has instructed officials to develop major lakes in the city, including Saroor Nagar Lake, he added.
Works to start by March, finish in a year
The HYDRAA Commissioner inspected Saroor Nagar Lake on Wednesday and said proposals would be submitted to the government shortly. He said works were expected to begin by March and would be completed within a year.
Focus on depth, storage and flood mitigation
Ranganath said lake restoration was not limited to surface-level beautification. He cited earlier HYDRAA projects at Bathukamma Kunta, Bumruk-ud-Daula and Kukatpally Nalla Cheruvu as examples.
At Saroor Nagar Lake, 10 to 15 feet of silt will be removed to increase depth. This will enhance water storage capacity and help groundwater recharge, he said. Inlets and outlets will be streamlined, with a specific focus on making the lake effective for flood regulation.
He said steps would be taken in coordination with the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board to prevent sewage inflow into the lake and to increase sewage treatment plant capacity.
Environment-friendly development planned
Ranganath said large-scale plantation of medicinal plants would be taken up around the lake. Existing parks, including Indira Priyadarshini Park, and additional green spaces would be developed to improve environmental protection.
Facilities planned around the lake include a bund, walking tracks, children’s play areas, sports parks and open gyms suitable for all age groups. With fresh water inflows, foul odour issues will be eliminated, creating a cleaner and more pleasant environment, he added.
Lingoji Guda and Gaddi Annaram corporators Darpally Rajashekhar Reddy and Prem Maheshwar Reddy welcomed the inspection and expressed confidence that the lake would be transformed if HYDRAA implements the project. The Commissioner was felicitated during the visit.
HYDRAA additional directors Varla Papaiah and ACP Tirumal, among other officials, accompanied the Commissioner.
