GHMC surprises activists by appointing agency for lake survey
Hyderabad – The activists are continuously making efforts to get the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to save the dying lakes in Hyderabad but in reality, the civic body is doing nothing to protect them.
Now the GHMC has appointed a private agency to survey 175 lakes in its limits at a cost of Rs 1.25 crore. This agency will identify the lakes for conservation under National Lakes Conservation Plan (NLCP). This plan is a project of the Union environment and forests ministry.
Last year, a study was conducted under the aegis of Centre’s department of science and technology (DST). Many reports were prepared which pointed out the disappeared lakes in Mir Alam and Umdasagar basins and some threatened by the encroachments. A study was also carried out by Save Our Urban Lakes (SOUL) and Hyderabad-based Saci Waters which identified 51 lakes in the Mir Alam and Umdasagar basins. Out of these, only 21 lakes were actually surviving with the remaining threatened by the encroachments.
All the details were already shared with GHMC, Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) and the district collector of Rangareddy. These details were shared in advance so that steps can be taken to protect the extincting water bodies. An elaborated information of encroachments on 10 lakes in Mir Alam basin was also forwarded to concerned authorities in January 2013.
The study resulted in joint inspection by HMDA, irrigation department and revenue officials in January 2013. The results of this inspection was concurrent with the study. But till yet, government has not taken any initiative in this regard.
Banjara Lake in Hyderabad city was undertaken by National Lakes Conservation Plan (NLCP) but now it is also polluted by an incoming nala. Under the new exercise of NLCP, these lakes will only be protected from encroachments. Members of the study group feel that the water spread of lakes will be shrinked by the development of parks and restaurants on lakes.
The activists working for the protection of lakes have decided to submit a detailed project report to the GHMC for the conservation of lakes.
Click here for related forum discussion
Related Civic Issues News:
Three lakes in Chennai get new life
GHMC launches programme to solve grievances
Aadhar card- subsidy LPG scheme surrounded with questions
department of science and technology, DST, GHMC, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, HMDA, Hyderabad, Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority, Lakes in Hyderabad, National Lakes Conservation Plan, NLCP, Save Our Urban Lakes, SOUL
