HYDRAA begins Fox Sagar Lake restoration, aims to finish in a year

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA) on Friday, November 13, began the restoration of Fox Sagar Lake in Jeedimetla, Medchal-Malkajgiri district. Commissioner AV Ranganath formally inaugurated the works.

Fox Sagar Lake was constructed in 1897 during the Nizam’s rule. Documented records indicate that it was built to provide irrigation water as well as drinking water to the people of Secunderabad.

“Groundwater has been severely impacted due to heavy sewage, industrial chemical waste and heavy silt accumulation. HYDRAA plans to remove nearly five metres of accumulated silt to increase the lake’s water storage capacity from the present 1,000 million litres to 4,000 million litres,” Ranganath said in an interaction with the media.

In addition, the agency will conduct water quality tests examining both lake water and groundwater in the surrounding areas before and after the restoration.

“Like every project, HYDRAA will establish a sewage treatment plant (STP) to prevent untreated sewage and industrial effluents from entering the lake directly. Its inlets and outlets will be properly developed to ensure efficient water flow,” Ranganath said.

A ring road will also be developed around the lake, he added.

An old stone pump house constructed on the lake bund was once used for drinking water supply. We will seek assistance from European experts to restore it and preserve its heritage value, said the HYDRAA Commissioner.

“Fox Sagar Lake would be developed on the lines of a mini Tank Bund. We aim to complete it before the next monsoon and make it ready for public use within a year,” Ranganath said.

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