Residents in Hyderabad are calling on authorities, including the GHMC and Irrigation Department, to take action regarding the deteriorating condition of Kapra Lake. The lake is facing issues such as lack of desilting, installation of septic tanks, and wetland conservation.
Kapra Lake is one of many lakes in the city that have been buried under concrete structures or turned into polluted bodies of water. In an effort to prevent further deterioration, a group of social activists and locals have been cleaning the lake every Sunday. They are also urging the authorities to desilt the lake as soon as possible.
Originally spanning 113 acres, the lake has now shrunk to just 30 acres due to encroachment. Despite heavy rainfall last year, 70 percent of the lake is dry and barren, causing groundwater levels in the surrounding area to decrease. If sewage inflow is not reconnected, bore wells will soon run dry. However, some locals have taken it upon themselves to clean the lake through Sharamdaan programs.
While the cleaning efforts are commendable, they do not provide a permanent solution. The residents are questioning why the lake has not been desilted and where the water is going. They believe that government bodies such as the GHMC and Irrigation Department should work together to save the lake. Their goal is to draw attention from the state government and bring about necessary actions.
The urgent attention needed for Kapra Lake includes desilting and installation of septic tanks. By installing septic tanks, sewage water from nearby colonies can be treated before flowing into the lake. The irrigation department had plans to purify water and develop a bird sanctuary as part of wetland conservation, but nothing has been done so far. Despite ample rainfall last monsoon season, the lake remains unfilled.
Currently, Kapra Lake has become a small pond and is dying due to ongoing litigation by outlying colonies. The irrigation department had concrete plans for converting sewage inflow through phytoremediation/bioremediation methods. The residents are questioning why these plans have not been implemented.
