Monsoon breathes new life into Nalla Cheruvu in Uppal
It is a heartening sight for the residents of Uppal and Boduppal areas to watch the abominable scourge in their neighbourhood transform into a water
It is a heartening sight for the residents of Uppal and Boduppal areas to watch the abominable scourge in their neighbourhood transform into a water body with defined shape and size. Copious rains during the last week have brought bountiful water to the Nalla Cheruvu in Uppal, which has been kept ready to receive the bounty. It is one among the six lakes chosen in the first phase for development as an urban water front by the Hyderabad Disaster Response & Asset Protection Agency. While the lake is yet to be launched as a space of recreation for the neighbouring colonies, the storm water arriving into it already makes it look a lot better than its previous self-- ridden with sewage, garbage, industrial effluents and unbridled growth of water hyacinth.
Sewage still enters the lake. The storm water inlet is designed in such a way that during the dry season, the meagre flows of sewage and pollutants gets diverted to another channel down below. When storm water billows down through the drain during heavy rains, it sweeps the murky flows too into the lake. However, compared to the volume of the storm water, the pollution would be minuscule and unnoticeable outwardly by way of stench and weed growth. HYDRAA forces have expanded the lake to 70 acres, after removing various encroachments on 10 acres.
About ₹20 crore is being spent on development of the lake. Two inlets have been developed for the lake-- one to bring the excess flows from Pedda Chruvu of Nacharam, and another to evacuate storm water from the surrounding areas. An outlet for excess flows too has been provided up to the Musi River, besides bund strengthening, a statement from HYDRAA informed. A walking track, and facilities such as play area, parks and open gym are being provided near the lake so as to develop it as a recreational space, the statement said.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy commended HYDRAA’s efforts in the rejuvenation of Nalla Cheruvu through his official X handle. Reclaiming lakes is not simply protecting water bodies, but also securing the future of the generations ahead, the chief minister noted.
The BriefWire