Hyderabadis Ask Authorities To Work On Livability Around Hussain Sagar Lake

Until a few decades ago, the Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad was known for its grandeur and clear water. A scenic beauty in itself, the lake was also a great source of fresh supply of drinking water to areas that were downstream. But, while the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) is busy working on plans to improve infrastructure along the nearly-by localities, the heritage lake might be at the risk facing vital damages. Those who live close would tell you that.

Devender Rao Gona, a native of the area says: “During the past few years, grave concern has been voiced by people from different walks of life over the deteriorating conditions of Hussain Sagar. As a result of pressure of unplanned urbanisation, the entire ecosystem has changed. The water quality has deteriorated considerably in the last three decades.”  Gona is an active member of a social media group called Save Hussain Sagar. 

A couple of years back, the Telangana government announced that it would construct skyscrapers around the lake to improve the livability quotient of the area, and its immediate vicinity. Localities that would benefit from any such initiative include Basheer Bagh, Ameerpet, Punjagutta, Khairatabad, Lakdi ka Pul, lower Tank Bund and Begumpet. While these constitute the older, established localities of Hyderabad, developing new areas on a par might be a tough task. And, in achieving that would lie the key to unlock the full potential the lake has to offer.

View from the top

When you visit for the first time and key in the words 'things to do near Hussain Sagar Lake' as your google entry, you will find a travel website listing about 100 options available within a two-km radius of the lake. Hospitality giants in the vicinity do great business for offering their customers a lake-facing view. This is true of residential set-ups, too. So, commercial as well as residential establishments owe much of their growth to the scenic view of the lake.

Maintaining the flow

In the last few years, the HMDA has done its bit to preserve the lake. The overall thrust of the development body has been to better the quality of the lake by maintaining water balance round the year, prevent nutrient-rich sediments at lake bed, diversion of dry weather flows, cleanse the nalas while consistently trying to emphasise the potential of ecotourism. 

The process has already picked up pace.

• Effluents from the nalas have already been diverted to the sewer lines.

• Sewage treatment plants at Picket Nala and Balkapur Nala have also been set up to monitor the limit of nitrates and phosphates that enter the lake channel.

• Fountains have also been installed to ensure the dissolved oxygen content in the lake.

• The lake has been declared a no-plastic zone.

• Some industrial units have been shifted out as well.

 All of these have contributed to the slow-yet-steady revival of the lake.  

 Work in progress

 However, perhaps voices like Rao's did reach the officials. When the writer of this article last spoke to Param Jyothi, executive engineer at the HMDA, he said: “We might have lagged a little but almost all the work is over. The Kukatpally nala was the biggest challenge and we are planning to stop it altogether. We have also given implementable measures to industries since most of the hazardous wastes that are discharged are from the industrial belt. That ensured, the water quality has improved and small businesses and housing have already come up in the area.” 

“As an organisation we are looking forward to develop the area as much as possible and that will surely be visible in days to come. As of now we are focusing on dredging the water spread and cleanse the lake thoroughly,” added Jyothi.  

There are also plans to dry-clean the lake — emptying it and refilling it with rainwater. However, conservationists, planners and authorities are at loggerheads on this decision. It will take time to make the vicinity livable. But when it does, let's hope that the city benefits and so does real estate.