Ramannakunta Lake in Secunderabad plagued by algae, neglect and encroachments

Ramannakunta Lake in Secunderabad is facing neglect, algae infestation, and encroachments, causing flooding and unhygienic conditions. HMDA plans rejuvenation with walking tracks, landscaping, and play areas, but work is stalled, awaiting approval from military authorities.

Hyderabad: Ramannakunta Lake, a century-old water body in the heart of the Secunderabad Cantonment, remains invaded by algae and emitting a strong stench, much to the inconvenience of locals. Also, during heavy rains last monsoon, nearby colonies experienced heavy inundation after the lake overflowed.

The previous BRS government had spent Rs 4.18 crore and got sewer trunks laid by HMWSSB and HMDA along the periphery of the lake to prevent pollution into the lake from adjacent areas. However, due to poor maintenance by the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) sanitation wing, the lake turned into a dumping yard.

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Also, the silt has spread across the lake, resulting in unhygienic conditions and turning the water body into a hub for mosquitoes. However, there has apparently been a lack of effort from the local authorities to desilt and increase the retention capacity of the lake, citing a financial crunch.

The HMDA had proposed lake development of Ramannakunta in July 2025 under lake rejuvenation, and the plan included strengthening and widening of the lake’s main bund, stone revetment and grouting, providing walking tracks, pathways with paver block, children’s play equipment, a Yoga shed, and landscape greenery work as part of lake beautification.

HMDA sought permission to start the works and approached SCB to issue a ‘no objection certificate’ (NoC) from the local military authority (LMA), as the lake is located on army land controlled by the Telangana Andhra Sub Area (TASA).

A senior SCB official said the Cantonment Board passed a resolution and forwarded it to the LMA seeking permission to undertake the works proposed under lake rejuvenation, and is waiting for a green signal from TASA.

SCB former ward member (Ward-6) and BRS leader Pandu Yadav told ‘Telangana Today’, “We have approached the SCB chief executive officer and requested to take up lake rejuvenation with the HMDA fund, which sanctioned Rs 303 crore in lieu of Cantonment land transferred to HMDA as part of elevated corridor.”

Originally, the lake was spread over eight acres, but more than one acre has been lost due to encroachments on the bund area. A few residents of Soujanya Colony met the Commissioner of Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (Hydraa), A V Ranganath, during the Praja Vani programme and urged protection of the century-old lake from encroachments. Hydraa officials also inspected the lake a couple of months ago, but the matter was kept in abeyance, allegedly due to political pressure.