Hyderabad:
Recent heavy rains have filled the city lakes to their maximum capacity. The Pragathi Nagar Cheruvu in Nizampet is now at its highest level. This situation has worried the local residents because the Nizampet Municipal Corporation has not taken any steps to protect or rejuvenate the lake.
The stormwater lines connected to the lake are full. To make matters worse, half of the lake is covered with water hyacinth. Although a fence was installed around the lake earlier, only half of it remains intact, and some areas have broken fences.
People living near the lake are concerned. They remember a similar incident in 2020 when their streets were flooded with rainwater. They fear this could happen again if the rain continues. Without a long-term solution, the lake bund could break, causing water to flood into the streets and homes.
Some locals have pointed out that there is confusion about who is responsible for the lake. It is unclear whether it falls under the Nizampet Municipal Corporation or the GHMC limits.
Suresh, a local resident, said, “We are tired of asking officials for a permanent solution to stop the water from overflowing into our colonies. Because of their negligence, we suffer every time it rains. If the bund is not strengthened, anything can happen.”
Sai Teja, another resident, added, “Even a small amount of rain can cause overflow, and with every downpour, we spend sleepless nights. Our neighborhood is low-lying and was badly affected by floods in 2020, with water entering houses up to 5-6 feet. We do not want this to happen again.”
Another major concern is that the lake needs regular monitoring but has been neglected. In 2020, there was a plan to divert the sewage from the lake, but only a Bathukamma Ghat was constructed. No other renovations have been done. Despite many complaints, nothing has changed.
Local residents hope that authorities will take action before another disaster strikes.
