Hyderabad: Heavy inflows in Hussain Sagar, GHMC on alert

Heavy rains in Hyderabad have pushed the water level in Hussain Sagar above its full tank level. GHMC and Irrigation officials are closely monitoring the lake, which is receiving major inflows through city nalas. Pollution remains a persistent issue

Hyderabad: Incessant and heavy rains that lashed Hyderabad for two consecutive evenings have ended up sending copious inflows into Hussain Sagar, one of the largest man-made water reservoirs of the country.

Given the heavy inflow of rain run-off from across the city, the water levels at Hussain Sagar have risen and crossed the full tank level (FTL) of 513.41m on Saturday morning.

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The GHMC has been monitoring the water level at the lake that was built in the year 1562 to serve irrigation and drinking water needs of Hyderabad.

The GHMC, along with the Irrigation department, is maintaining a vigil over the area and ensuring necessary precautions are in place to address any potential risks associated with the increasing water levels.

With a total catchment area of 240 sq km, the lake receives water through four main feeder nalas—Picket nala, Kukatpally nala, Banjara nala, and Balkapur nala.

The water body in the heart of the city, despite several initiatives, continues to remain polluted, mainly from the wastewater that flows into it, apart from effluents from industrial estates.

In a bid to clean it, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) in 2006 launched ‘Hussain Sagar Lake and Efforts to Catchment Area Improvement Project’. The initiative aimed to improve lake water quality by preventing the entry of pollutants from both point and nonpoint sources, removing nutrient-rich sediment, intercepting and diverting dry weather flows, and improving nallas in the catchment area.

Another cleaning programme, ‘Clean Hussain Sagar Campaign’, was launched in 2013 and subsequently, in 2017, Canadian technology was introduced to rejuvenate Hussain Sagar. However, the lake’s situation remains unchanged.

Features of Hussain Sagar:

Inlets: 4 major nalas

Outlets: 2 surplus weirs & 4 sluice gates

Maximum Depth: 32 ft.

Water Spread Area: 4.7 square km

Total Catchment Area: 240 km

Capacity: 23.5million cubic meters

Inlets of Hussain Sagar:

* Kukatpally nala: Originates at Parkichuru reservoir and travels 12.5 km to join the lake. Out of the lake’s 240 sq km catchment area, Kukatpally nala contributes a significant 168 sq km passing through Kukatpally and Sanathnagar industrial estates and, near Fathenagar, Jeedimetla and Balanagar.

* Picket nala: It has a catchment area of 7.779 sq km, extending in northern and northwestern directions.

* Balkapur nala: A primary feeder channel of Banjara nala, it carries domestic effluent and is a connection between upstream River Musi and the domestic effluents.

* Banjara nala: It carries sewage water from the domestic and industrial areas.

Hussain Sagar water level on Saturday at 9 am

Hussain Sagar FTL: 513.41m

MWL: 514.75m

Present water level: 513.64m

Status of inflows: 1130 Cusecs

Outflows: 2645 Cusecs