HYDRAA's First Phase Of Lake Restoration Almost Complete; Lakes To Be Inaugurated By CM Revanth

Hyderabad: The first phase of the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency’s (HYDRAA) lake restoration is nearing completion.

The final three lakes, where the work involved much controversy, were undergoing finishing works and would be inaugurated by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy by the year end.

The first phase included Bum-Rukn-ud-Dowla lake in Rajendranagar, Nalla Cheruvu in Kukatpally and Nalla Cheruvu in Uppal, Bathukammakunta in Amberpet, Sunnam Cheruvu in Madhapur and Hitec City’s Thammidikunta.

Revanth Reddy has previously inaugurated the work at the Bum-Rukn-ud-Dowla lake, Kukatpally’s Nalla Cheruvu and Bathukammakunta.

Final beautification works were underway at Sunnam Cheruvu, Thammidikunta and Uppal’s Nalla Cheruvu under the supervision of HYDRAA commissioner A. V. Ranganath and local municipal zonal commissioners.

Thammidikunta was one of the most controversial encroachment reclamation activities taken up by HYDRAA.

The agency demolished the alleged encroachments raised by actor Nagarjuna’s N Convention on the lake land.

HYDRAA took up restoration works and expanded the 14-acre lake spread to 29 acres.

HYDRAA said the reclaimed 15 acres of prime land was valued at over ₹2,000 crore, with a square yard of land valued upwards of ₹3 lakh.

Madhapur’s Sunnam Cheruvu was also riddled with encroachments and unauthorised constructions.

Authorities, speaking with Deccan Chronicle, said they demolished more than 35 structures raised on the full tank level and buffer zones around the lake.

HYDRAA undertook the restoration works after the demolition, but miscreants were emptying the lake’s waters by installing illegal borewells and pumps around the lake.

The agency removed illegal pumps during the initial demolition drive, but more pumps were installed.

Recently, authorities acted on the illegal activities and removed more than 25 borewells around the lake.

Prior to HYDRAA’s intervention to restore Uppal Nalla Cheruvu, the lake was an unofficial dumping ground for local residents and trash collectors.

The agency removed commercial encroachments on 10 acres of the lake and began restoring the lake to 67.31 acres.

After the restoration works, the lake has become an important floodwater storage point.

HYDRAA constructed two inlets to channel floodwater from Nacharam Lake and nearby areas into Nalla Cheruvu, and also upgraded the outlet to release excess water into the Musi River.

The restoration works resulted in the lake receiving large volumes of rainwater during the monsoons in August.

HYDRAA said that while the first phase is nearing completion, the second phase of lake restorations is underway, with works being undertaken at multiple lakes.

They said they plan to inaugurate all three lakes before the end of 2026, with Sunnam Cheruvu’s inauguration planned for the first week of November.