Hyderabad: It has been nearly a year since civic authorities promised to establish the Full Tank Level (FTL) limits for Pedda Cheruvu, a significant lake in Ramanthapur. Despite this commitment, no progress has been made. Over the past few decades, the lake has shrunk by more than 50 percent, becoming a major concern for the community.
Pedda Cheruvu is part of a chain of lakes that were historically connected, including Osmania University lake and other upstream lakes, as well as Chinna Cheruvu downstream. This chain has also lost its link to the Musi River further downstream. These changes have led to flooding, especially in colonies built in the lake’s catchment areas. Construction in these areas has encroached upon the lake’s buffer zone and FTL, officially recorded at 26 acres. However, some estimates suggest the lake originally covered more than 50 acres.
Last year, the former Commissioner of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), D Ronald Rose, informed the High Court that steps were being taken to protect the lake from encroachment. He assured the court that the FTL limits would be finalized within a month. However, due to the assembly elections, the work was delayed as staff were redirected to election-related duties.
Recently, the issue has resurfaced due to ongoing actions by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HYDRA). Activists have raised concerns, reminding the public of the 2020 flooding.
Bapatla Krishnamohan, a green activist, explained, “Documents from the Nizam’s era indicate that the lake was around 51 acres, but it has now shrunk to about 11 acres. The nearby Chinna Cheruvu, originally 22 acres, has been reduced to just 8 acres. Both lakes are part of the chain connecting Osmania University lake to the Musi River. It has been almost a year since GHMC officials appeared in court, and there is still no clarity on the buffer zone or FTL.”
