A routine unfolds around the 24-acre Kaidamma Kunta lake in Hyderabad’s Hafeezpet. A man walks his dog along a track while, on the barren lake bed surrounded by apartment complexes, a group of boys turns the open expanse into a cricket ground.“It used to be a dumpyard, with sewage water and garbage thrown all around. People could not come near it because of the stench. Now, this walking track is used by residents from the neighbourhood,” says Chaitanya of the Malligavad Foundation, an NGO working to revive urban lakes.“Drainage water once flowed directly into the lake and polluted it. But two inlets and outlets were created to divert sewage away, allowing only rainwater to enter,” he adds.Lake restoration projects
Anand Malligavad
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Special Arrangement
The Bengaluru-based Malligavad Foundation’s journey in Hyderabad began with the restoration of Bakshi Kunta lake in 2022. Supported by HYDRAA (Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency) and the GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation), the initiative has since expanded to include the revival of Regula Kunta, Gurunadham Cheruvu and Nayinamma Kunta.How does it work?“GHMC gives permission to revive a lake after checking the technicalities and the foundation’s approach,” explains Anand Malligavad. “We bring in the CSR funds but cannot directly begin the work since GHMC is the custodian of these lakes. The department of minor irrigation, under whose jurisdiction these lakes come, have also supported in issues relating to survey and marking the boundaries.”HYDRAA plays a pivotal part in clearing the encroachments at the lake . “It is only due to HYDRAA’s anti-encroachment operations, all the encroached land worth 100 crores of property is being restored.”“Our lake restoration work is like a web series — an ongoing endeavour,” says Anand Malligavad, referring to projects lined up at Lingam Gunta, Chakalavani Cheruvu, Devuni Gunta, Medla Kunta, Pragathi Nagar Lake, and Patel Cheruvu.
