The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA)’s Lake Protection Committee mandated to initiate steps for protection and conservation of water bodies in and around the city, has notified 23 more lakes and sought objections and suggestions on the full tank level (FTL) boundary maps and buffer zones of these lakes.
Involving field staff of local bodies and Revenue and Irrigation Departments for field verification, the committee has identified 2,857 lakes in the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) area.
Of these water bodies, 168 have been located in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) jurisdiction and the rest of 2,689 lakes were identified in adjoining gram panchayats and municipalities.
The services of consultants were roped in for fixing the FTL boundaries and for preparation of lake maps in coordination with the Irrigation and the Revenue departments staff and so far, the demarcations have been completed for nearly 521 lakes.
After verification and certification by the Irrigation Department with details of Revenue survey numbers, the HMDA has been notifying lakes in a phased manner for public information, suggestions and comments.
In 12 phases so far, 415 lakes were notified and now, 23 more water bodies for which mapping of full tank level boundaries and buffer zones was completed, have been notified.
Orders were issued by the State government in 2012 restricting building/development activity in the FTL of lakes and kuntas and on maintaining courses of these water bodies as recreational or green buffer zone.
Published - February 19, 2015 12:00 am IST
