Hyderabad: Malkam Cheruvu, the lake near Rai Durgam, which is filled with eichhornia crassipes SOLMS, is in for better times. Days are not far when it will be a treat to the eyes, with works like development of a walkers’ path, a children’s park, a green belt etc apace. The flock of techies and the locals are waiting to have a feel of the new-look lake.
So far, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is looking after the development of urban lakes. Due to the jurisdiction issues, the irrigation department did not take up any work under ‘Mission Kakatiya’ in the GHMC limits. Recen-tly, urban affairs minister K. T. Rama Rao and irrigation minister T. Harish Rao discussed the matter and, as a result, the GHMC handed over the urban lakes to the irrigation department for development.
Commissioner of GHMC, B. Janardhan Reddy, said this decision was taken during a review meeting chaired by the two ministers. “We are having 185 tanks. In the first phase, we are handing over 24 tanks to the irrigation depa-rtment. They’ll develop compound walls or fencing with entry and exit points, develop greenery, a walkers’ path, a lighting system etc,” he said.
Assistant executive director of irrigation department Ch. Nagaraju said the department would develop Malkam Cheruvu in four phases. The phase-I is almost complete. “In Phase I, we constructed boundaries as per the records that are available with us, the GHMC and the revenue. In Phase II, we will develop the walkers’ path, toilet blocks, entrance plaza, children’s park and amenities for morning-walkers like benches etc. In Phase-III, we focus on landscaping like plantation, lawn besides the walkers path with a 0.6 metre width on each side and purification of the tank. In Phase-IV, we install electric poles with lighting system at every 15 metres along the walkers path with an underground cable system,” he said.
The entire project was taken up by the irrigation department with an estimated Rs 1.6 crore. As per schedule, the works will be completed by October. The walkers path is being erected for about 1.1km around the lake, like in Necklace Road.
Mr Nagaraju said the department was procuring special soil from other tanks which could help walkers in avoiding knee and feet pains.
Lake Improvement
As per records, Malkam Cheruvu is spread over 51 acres
Officials found about 5 acres lost in encroachments
Irrigation department is developing the lake in 42 acres
Besides Malkam Cheruvu, Irrigation department will take up development works in Devuni Kunta in Nanakramguda, Komati Kunta in Gopanpally and Pedda Cheruvu in Lingampally under IT corridor.
