Hyderabad, which was once known as the "city of lakes," has faced a slow death of its water bodies. While few have vanished, others have shrunk dramatically as a result of widespread encroachment, and what is left is polluted by illegal sewage dumping. A majority of 168 lakes have vanished due to insufficient monitoring which has deteriorated aquatic life, declined groundwater levels, and increased waterlogging. Not only these, but the unmonitored discharge has severely affected the quality of water making clean, hygienic, and portable water a thing of the past. 

The contaminated water bodies were classified under class E by the Central Pollution Control Board making it unsuitable for drinking, irrigation as well as industrial use. On understanding the damage already caused, the government has taken an initiative to revitalize and beautify the lakes to turn them into a tourist attraction and bring back Hyderabad’s lost pride of being called “the city of lakes”. 

In the first phase, Durgam Cheruvu and Malka Cheruvu will be beautified and cleaned by removing the dump from the lakes and keeping it clean at least for a while. They will be revived as a result of private-sector CSR. The dumping of garbage from nearby households and colonies have been the major cause of pollution, resulting in a stinky neighborhood while making life for the locals difficult.  

The second phase will consist of desilting, formation cycle, strengthening of the existing bunds, walking tracks, landscaping, lighting, safety railing, and improvement of water quality.  

While 20 lakes have already been chosen for the project, another 4 lakes may be added to the list making it a total of 24. Alongside this, the HDMA has also taken up the project of rock formation on the outer ring road, making the view alluring. 

With the support of the flagship program Mission Kakatiya, a new perspective on the restoration and comprehensive development of urban lakes in Hyderabad will once again give the city its original definition - “the city of lakes”