National Dam Safety Panel Hails HYDRAA Lake Restoration Model
The plans include protecting the lake boundaries, safeguarding public assets and preserving the surrounding environment.
Hyderabad:The National Dam Safety expert committee has praised the restoration and development of Hyderabad’s lakes by the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection Agency (HYDRAA), saying its approach could serve as a model for other parts of the country.
The committee said HYDRAA’s approach of protecting the natural features of lakes while improving their safety and water management systems could be replicated elsewhere.
Committee members, led by chairman Dr Shailesh Kumar Srivastava, visited Fox Sagar on Wednesday and inspected the main bund, the condition of the lake and issues related to its safety.
The committee was briefed on HYDRAA’s plans for protecting and restoring Fox Sagar Lake, which has a Full Tank Level (FTL) area of 482.6 acres. The plans include protecting the lake boundaries, safeguarding public assets and preserving the surrounding environment.
Officials said Fox Sagar was being developed under HYDRAA’s Phase-3 programme for the restoration of major lakes in Hyderabad. The work focuses on restoring and protecting the lake, maintaining its water storage capacity and safeguarding its surroundings.
HYDRAA’s work also includes improving inlets that carry floodwater into lakes from their catchment areas and outlets that carry excess water after the lakes reach their full level. Strengthening lake bunds while retaining their natural features is also part of the work.
The committee members appreciated HYDRAA’s efforts to protect public assets and restore the city’s lakes, saying the work would help preserve the water bodies for future generations.