HYDERABAD: On the lines of Forest Act, the state government proposes to bring in a new Act to protect water bodies (lakes and ponds) in the state, irrigation minister T Harish Rao has said.
The proposed Act would be introduced in the state Assembly and it would be part of Mission Kakatiya, he added. Harish Rao along with home minister Nayini Narasinha Reddy, local MLA and officials inspected Vengalrao Park in Banjara Hills, Lotus Pond and Rock park in Jubilee Hills on Thursday.
Later speaking to reporters, the minister said that the state government would take all necessary measures besides beautifying 30 water bodies located in and around Hyderabad by developing them as mini Tank Bunds by providing all recreational facilities like walking and jogging tracks.
Apart from protecting the water bodies, the state government is also keen in protecting the parks from encroachments by land grabbers and anti-social elements. The government will initiate stringent action against land grabbers, he added.
He expressed concern over depleting ground water table with each passing day.
Even after digging borewells 1,000 feet, people were finding it difficult to draw potable drinking water. Keeping this is in view the government has launched Mission Kakatiya to renovate the water bodies. The mission aims to revive over 46,000 tanks across 10 districts in the state including Greater Hyderabad.
The project, that would cost up to `22,000 crore over five years, will restore 46,631 tanks. More than 9,3200 tanks will be restored this year, he said.
Once completed, Mission Kakatiya will provide storage facility for 265 to 270 TMC of water from Godavari and Krishna basins.
MLAs Chintala Ramachandra Reddy and Kanaka Reddy and officials from different departments were also present.