Hyderabad: Many departments that oversee lakes could come together to help preserve the water bodies. The Pollution Control Board (PCB) is attempting to submit an action plan to the government to this end, said member-secretary Satyanarayana Reddy. He was speaking at a public hearing held at RK Puram, where froth from the lake had alarmed residents last week, on Sunday.
Lakes are overseen by the GHMC, HMDA, Water Supply and Sewerage Board, irrigation and revenue departments and the PCB.
“The problem started when the GHMC let out untreated sewerage into the lake. Had that been resolved at the outset, the problem would not have arisen,” said Mr Murali Chemuturi, president of Sainik Nagar Colony. “The city produces 1,600 million litres of sewerage and only 700 mld is treated. We are recommending all areas to link their drains to sewrage treatment plants,” said Mr Satyanarayana Reddy. The RK Puram lake among the 30 that are slated to STPs if funds are sanctioned by the Centre.
The RK Puram lake area has reduced from 70 acres to 50 acres, an irrigation official said. The revenue department and GHMC are being blamed for giving permissions to build in the full tank level.
Lake conservation expert Dr B.V. Subba Rao said that a Lake Development Authority must be constituted. “Each lake is different so a dedicated authority must be in place with sufficient funds and powers to look into the issues specifically,” he said.
