Hyderabad: Residents from across Hyderabad have urged authorities to restore local lakes and protect them from encroachments. They demanded action during the HYDRAA Prajavani session held on Monday. A total of 76 petitions were submitted, seeking urgent attention to water bodies, flood canals, and road and park encroachments.
Citizens called for the revival of neglected lakes such as Fox Sagar in Jeedimetla, Pragatinagar lake, Noormahmad Kunta in Katedan, and Filmnagar lake. They requested restoration of flood canals that once connected these lakes. Additionally, they demanded conversion of deteriorated lakes into clean freshwater reservoirs. Residents from Amberpet’s Bathukamma Kunta, Kukatpally’s Nalla Cheruvu, and the old city’s Bum-Rukn-ud-Daula lake cited successful transformations into tourism spots. They sought similar development in their localities.
HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath reviewed the grievances and assigned responsibility for action to officials in front of the petitioners. He assured field inspections for certain cases.
Fox Sagar revival and canal clearance among key demands
Residents of Jeedimetla demanded the removal of over 1,000 encroachments around Fox Sagar and sought its development into a recreational zone. They pointed to illegal constructions choking the flood canal that historically connected Fox Sagar to Hussain Sagar. They argued that restoring the lake would benefit fisher families. It would also provide environmental and tourism value.
Locals in Abdullapurmet’s Gowrelly village (Ranga Reddy district) asked HYDRAA to intervene in the Malakunta lake encroachments. They alleged that some individuals had breached the bund and diverted water, threatening the lake’s ecosystem. Once a livelihood source for fishermen, the lake now faces destruction. Residents called for immediate reconstruction of the bund, removal of concrete pipes, and demarcation of Full Tank Level (FTL) boundaries with protective stones.
Encroached roads trigger protests in Kondapur, Balaji Layout
In Kondapur’s CMC layout, citizens raised concerns over a key road being blocked by gravel, obstructing access. They acknowledged HYDRAA’s role in previously enabling GHMC to lay a CC road. However, they now sought immediate restoration and strict action against those dumping soil to disrupt movement.
Meanwhile, residents of Balaji Layout near Peddambarpet in Abdullapurmet alleged that a 40-foot access road connecting to the ORR service road was illegally occupied and converted into a college ground. They demanded that authorities clear the encroachment and restore road access to nearby plots.
— హైడ్రా ప్రజావాణికి 76 ఫిర్యాదులు
— చెరువులను పునరుద్ధరించాలంటూ వినతులు✳️ నగరంలో అభివృద్ధి చెందిన చెరువులను చూసి.. తమ ప్రాంతాల్లో ఉన్న వాటిని కూడా అభివృద్ధి చేయాలని పలువురు కోరుతున్నారు. చెరువులు కబ్జా అవ్వకుండా కాపాడాలంటున్నారు. చెరువులను అనుసంధానం చేసిన వరద… pic.twitter.com/EZweytx9fZ
— HYDRAA (@Comm_HYDRAA) January 12, 2026