A concerted exercise by the Lake Protection Committee (LPC) to identify lakes in the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) area has ended up in a list of 2,857 water bodies.
Of the identified lakes, 455 water bodies fall inside the Outer Ring Road, while the rest are outside it, said LPC Chairman and HMDA Commissioner Neerabh Kumar Prasad.
A master database for these lakes with details such as villages, mandals and districts is being prepared.
The matter will be uploaded on the HMDA website.
“Consultants have been engaged to assist the Irrigation and Revenue departments in the demarcation and fixing of full tank level (FTL) boundaries,” Mr. Prasad said.
The FTL boundary demarcation has been completed in 266 lakes in coordination with the Irrigation and Revenue departments, and for another 189 lakes.
The exercise will be completed by November.
“Shortly, we will be notifying 22 lakes for which demarcation of FTL maps and certification by the Irrigation Department are completed,” Mr. Prasad said.
The HMDA has also identified 80 lakes for conservation and beautification, while the GHMC has taken up similar work in 128 lakes and the Irrigation Department in another 50 lakes.
“We are also in the process of setting up a control room and a small enforcement team to check unauthorised constructions in the FTL areas,” the HMDA Commissioner said.
Despite financial constraints, the HMDA has earmarked Rs. 10 crore for lake protection work, Mr. Prasad added.
