Hyderabad’s lakes to get Special Commissioner to protect them

Hyderabad: Intensifying its efforts to protect and rejuvenate lakes in the city, the State government has decided to appoint a Special Commissioner in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) for this purpose. The decision to appoint an exclusive officer for lakes was announced by Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister KT Rama Rao during a […]

Hyderabad: Intensifying its efforts to protect and rejuvenate lakes in the city, the State government has decided to appoint a Special Commissioner in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) for this purpose. The decision to appoint an exclusive officer for lakes was announced by Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister KT Rama Rao during a review meeting here on Monday.

“A series of works pertaining to beautification, development, and protection of lakes have been taken up by the State government. With the appointment of the Special Commissioner, these works will pick up pace,” the Minister said, adding that the onus of rejuvenating and developing the 185 lakes and other water bodies in the GHMC limits would be with the new officer.

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Sewage Management, installation of new Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), diverting the treated water, marking Full Tank Level (FTL) of lakes, protecting water used for agriculture, strengthening of weirs of water bodies and increasing the green cover around lakes would be the other responsibilities of the Special Commissioner, who would have to coordinate with the MA&UD, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Revenue Department and State Pollution Control Board and execute developmental works.

The GHMC, in a press release later, said its existing Lake Protection Committees would work under the Special Commissioner with the Lake Protection Force to take orders from the new officer. The decision to appoint an exclusive officer for lakes was taken by the Minister as part of the State government’s commitment to give future generations pollution-free water bodies, the release said.

The Minister also reviewed works taken up for rejuvenation of lakes and development of nalas, apart from the Strategic Nala Development Programme (SNDP), Strategic Road Development Plan (SRDP) works and the progress of works on link roads. Works taken up by the Hyderabad Road Development Corporation Ltd and Musi Riverfront Development Corporation Limited were also reviewed.

Urban Development Special Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar, GHMC Enforcement Vigilance & Disaster Management wing director Vishwajit Kampati and other officials were present.

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