HYDRAA plans to ease water shortages with Fox Sagar revival

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has said it will undertake the restoration of Fox Sagar Lake in Jeedimetla and transform it into a mini Tank Bund within one year.

HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath inspected the 129-year-old lake on Friday, October 30. He said that the lake was constructed in 1897 during the reign of the sixth Nizam Mir Mahbub Ali Khan, and served as a major source of drinking water even before major reservoirs such as Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar were constructed.

Despite its historical and functional importance, the lake has now become polluted with contaminated water and suffered extensive encroachments. Approximately 150 acre out of the 490 acre have fallen under encroachment, the Commissioner said.

He said the lake had deteriorated to such an extent that its water could no longer be used, even during periods of El Nino-related water stress.

The Commissioner said the lake receives floodwater from a catchment area extending nearly 47 kilometres. In 2000, the lake witnessed such heavy inflows that its bund was nearly breached.

He said comprehensive restoration of the lake would help address drinking water shortages in surrounding areas to a considerable extent.

HYDRAA plans to restore the lake’s natural features and improve its inlet and outlet systems. Nearly 10 feet of industrial waste and silt have accumulated in the lake, which will be removed to ensure the availability of clean water.

Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) will also be established around it to ensure a regular supply of treated water, particularly during the summer, so that the lake retains sufficient water throughout the year.

The first phase of the restoration project will be taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 75 crore.

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