HYDERABAD:If the catchment areas of the Osman Sagar, also called Gandipet Lake, and Himayat Sagar receive a couple of spells of heavy rainfall, the sluice gates would have to be lifted. Water levels in these lakes increased rapidly two days ago, but have come down since then. The last time the gates were opened was about seven years ago. While the full capacity of Himayat Sagar is 2.9 tmcft, water levels reached up to 1.5 to 1.6 tmcft. In the case of Osman Sagar, which has a capacity of 3.9 tmcft, around 2.2 tmcft got filled.
“It was in 2010 that the gates of these two water bodies were opened,” recalled B Vijay Kumar Reddy, chief general manager, Transmission Circle, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board. Lakes in and around Hyderabad, which have been lying dry for over a decade, are now receiving water. According to latest data, 119 lakes are overflowing. Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, in a release said that the city received heavy rains on 18 days of the last 55 days which brought in water to the lakes. From Aug 21 to October 10, five cm to 21 cm rain was recorded.
On the whole, 185 lakes come under GHMC. While 119 are over flowing, 26 are completely filled and 23 more are filled up to 75 per cent and 17 lakes up to 50 per cent. GHMC was assigned the job of keeping track of water levels in the lakes. Surplus water from RK Puram flows into Bandacheruvu through a nala which has been encroached. As a result, homes in the area have been inundated. The water carrying capacity of the nalas were also said to be insufficient.
Ramanthapur flood water starts to recede
The situation was similar at Peddhacheruvu in Ramanthapur as homes on encroached lake bed were inundated. Pump-sets of 125 HP were brought in from AP to drain out the water. A part of the ground on side of road was dug up to directly pump water into sewage line. Fox Sagar lake is filled up to 28 feet depth against 33 feet maximum depth.
`18.45 crore to clear hyacinth
It is estimated to cost about `18.45 crore to weed out hyacinth spread over 1887 acres of lake water. Of the 185 lakes, 85 are filled with hyacinth. Since GHMC does not have funds for the purpose, support from corporate companies and colony associations are being taken.