The city of Hyderabad was once known for its lakes, and then there was a time when no one knew of any lake except probably for Hussain Sagar lake and Osman Sagar lake. But now, Telangana seems to have made it a mission to rejuvenate lakes in various parts of the city by removing the garbage and making the entire area into a bio-diversity zone.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has taken up the task of rejuvenating 61 lakes under its jurisdiction, and the entire cost has come to Rs 95.54 crore. While works have begun in five lakes, the works are in the tender stage for the remaining lakes.

The GHMC is taking up restoration work of weirs, sluice, bund strengthening, and fencing in addition to sewage diversion. It is known that many parts of the city were flooded during the previous monsoons. Restoration and strengthening works are being taken up to avoid flood-like situations during downpours, and stopping the sewage from entering the lakes will naturally reduce pollution levels.

Nayanamma Kunta, also known as Baspalli Cheruvu, located in Serilingampally, Appa Cheruvu, and Palle Cheruvu in Rajendra Nagar and Bathukamma Kunta in LB Nagar, are among the 61 lakes that will be rejuvenated. In the past, the state government took up restoration works of 63 lakes at the cost of Rs 94.17 crore. The Hyderabad Lakes & Water Bodies Management Circle (HL&WBM) and GHMC have put fencing in place for these water bodies, and they have also added walking tracks, bund strengthening, landscaping/ plantation, and illumination.

While works at most lakes have been completed, some have not been rejuvenated due to court cases. In addition, 14 lakes are being rejuvenated by various companies as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility activity. While works are on at ten lakes, MoUs have been signed for four other lakes.

Water hyacinth has also been removed using floating trash collectors at all lakes under GHMC, and so is garbage in a phased manner.