Hyderabad: A major lake restoration project undertaken by Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection (HYDRAA) has turned Bathukamma Kunta Cheruvu into a symbol of effective urban rejuvenation, drawing wide praise from residents and environmentalists.
The 5-acre lake, located in the city, had suffered years of neglect, with encroachments and heavy pollution rendering it unusable. In February this year, HYDRAA, led by Commissioner Ranganath, IPS, began restoration work aimed at reviving the water body.
Recent aerial images taken on July 7 reveal significant progress, with much of the sludge removed and lake boundaries cleared. The ₹7–8 crore project is expected to be completed by September, according to officials.
Locals have welcomed the visible transformation and credited HYDRAA for fast-tracking one of the city’s most ambitious water body clean-up efforts. Commissioner Ranganath’s role in steering the initiative has been widely acknowledged for combining administrative focus with ecological sensitivity.
The Bathukamma Kunta revival is being held up as a model for future lake restoration efforts in urban Telangana. State support has also been instrumental in funding and enabling the project’s timely execution.
Environmentalists note that the rejuvenation serves both cultural and ecological objectives reviving a heritage site associated with Bathukamma festivities while enhancing the city’s water retention and sustainability infrastructure.
