HYDERABAD | Aug 28, 2015: Better days are being promised for the lakes in and around the city by the government that wants to restore water quality as well as the immediate surroundings of the water bodies.
While 169 lakes and tanks have been identified for the purpose, administrative sanction for the revival of 34 lakes at a cost of Rs 64 crore has already been given. At a recent meeting held earlier this week, irrigation minister T Harish Rao instructed officials of his department as well as the GHMC and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority to begin work on the 34 lakes without further loss of time.
The government is also planning to set up a special enforcement force for protection of the water bodies in the city and the two civic bodies are expected to constitute the force.
The meeting also discussed in detail work being done on the Ameenpur lake in Miyapur mandal by the Special Protection Force of the police which adopted the water body. According to the SPF director general Tejdeep Kaur Menon who briefed the meeting, the lake was facing the twin challenges of pollution and mining in its vicinity. It was decided at the meeting that the lake, which attracts several species of water birds including flamingos, is a favourite with nature lovers and birdwatchers, will now be fenced after the irrigation department officials fix its full tank level.
Incidentally, Harish Rao, who also holds the mining portfolio, instructed officials to immediately identify and stop any mining activity around the lake forthwith.
The meeting also decided that the irrigation department officials along with the representatives of the civic bodies will identify other water bodies not included in the list of 169. Work is also expected to be taken up to demarcate the full tank levels of all the lakes and tanks after which the government will step up protection of the lakes and their environs.
The state pollution control board has also been asked to get its act together and start cracking down on industries and others polluting the water bodies in the city.
At a recent meeting, irrigation minister T Harish Rao instructed officials of his department as well as the GHMC and the HMDA to begin work on the 34 lakes without further loss of time. The minister who also holds the mining portfolio, instructed officials to immediately identify and stop any mining activity around the lake forthwith
(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)