HYDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation plans to protect as many as 169 water bodies in the twin cities, mayor Bonthu Rammohan said.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Friday, Rammohan said all the lakes would be protected from encroachments and pollution with a 15-foot-high iron fence.
The GHMC plans to remove the accumulated hyacinth in the lakes. Desilting of nalas will be taken up on priority and efforts are being made to protect open nalas from encroachments. Dumping of garbage will be checked by erecting fencing.
The mayor said that with people’s cooperation, the corporation planned to adopt the practice of idol immersion in vogue in Bangalore where, on orders of the court, the maximum height of idols is restricted to 5 feet and immersed in small ponds specially developed for immersion of idols. Small idols can can be removed from ponds or lakes immediately after immersion to make way for other idols.
As Hyderabad is facing acute shortage of water and depletion of groundwater table, the civic body is planning to take up rain water harvesting structures on a big scale.
The mayor appealed to citizens, resident welfare associations and NGOs to join hands with GHMC in this task.