Hyderabad Lakes Rejuvenated, Groundwater Worries Remain

Hyderabad is grappling with early-onset water scarcity, prompting a renewed focus on lake rejuvenation to combat declining groundwater levels. The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has successfully restored three key water bodies: Bum-Rukn-ud-Dowla Lake, Bathukamma Kunta, and Kukatpally Nalla Cheruvu. These efforts have notably expanded the lakes' physical extents, with Kukatpally Nalla Cheruvu growing from 14 to 30 acres and Bum-Rukn-ud-Dowla Lake from 4 to 18 acres.

Despite these physical improvements, the impact on groundwater levels remains minimal, with levels persisting at eight to 10 metres below ground. Officials attribute this to the long-term effects of neglect, debris, and encroachments, emphasizing that substantial time and sustained effort are required for benefits to materialize. A primary concern highlighted by environmentalists is the continuous influx of untreated sewage into these restored lakes, compromising their ecological function and groundwater recharge capabilities.

Environmental experts stress the urgent need for adequate sewage treatment plants (STPs) for all revived lakes. Both Kukatpally Nalla Cheruvu and Bum-Rukn-ud-Dowla Lake currently lack STPs, while a facility for Bathukamma Kunta is under construction. The scale of the problem is significant, with estimates suggesting a need for STPs with capacities exceeding 10-15 million litres per day for these water bodies. Experts also call for nature-based solutions to complement conventional methods.

HYDRAA officials acknowledge that aquifer recharge is gradual and anticipate measurable improvements in groundwater levels after at least two monsoon cycles. The agency is exploring the possibility of establishing STPs on government land reclaimed from encroachments along the Full Tank Level (FTL) areas of these lakes, indicating a commitment to addressing the sewage inflow issue more comprehensively.