Abstract:
Hussainsagar lake, constructed in the year 1562 and situated between twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad of Andhra Pradesh in India, is an engineering marvel and a symbol of traditional wisdom of water conservation in the semi-arid region of peninsular India. The lake receives water from four major feeding drains emerging from 275 sq km highly urbanized and industrialized catchment area.
In the conservation history of India, last half of 20th Century witnessed unprecedented growth of urbanization and industrialization as a result of which natural resources in general and water resources in particular faced the most adverse impacts. It is during this phase the lake Hussainsagar underwent extensive environmental degradation due to unchecked inflow of untreated domestic sewage and toxic industrial effluents. The degradation was evident in the form of shrinkage of lake area due to siltation, encroachments, eutrophication, groundwater pollution, loss of biodiversity, breeding of vectors and recurrent fish kills. The worst sufferers of lake pollution were the communities like fishermen and washer-men earning livelihood from the lake . In recent years the lake has emerged as the major activity centre and become an ecological land mark of the city.
Until now there are four conservation projects undertaken for the improvement of Hussainsagar lake and its catchment area resulted in betterment of the water quality of the lake and has increased recreational facilities around the lake. But due to high urbanization and industrialization compounded with poor maintenance of the conservation schemes, the betterment in water quality has been started decreasing. There is lot of sewage still entering the lake without treatment.
several conservations works are being replaced, planned and executed. There works are the improvement of solid waste management, construction of community toilets, public awareness, public relations, community participation and development and institutional structure. Such works are expected to bring the sustainability of the conservation of lake. The estimated cost for the proposed plan has been worked out as Rs 5.65 crores .
