Lakes in Hyderabad

[1] As per various sources only a few decades back, Hyderabad had a large number of water bodies such as lakes, reservoirs, rivers, streams, aquaculture ponds, tanks etc.

As per the data from National Remote Sensing Centre, between 1979 and 2023 there has been a reduction of 61% in city’s lake area.

Most of them have disappeared due to encroachment or have been illegally drained for real estate projects by private or government agencies.

Most of these lakes and tanks were built during the regime of Qutub Shah in 16th and 17th century and later by Nizams as a source of drinking water for the residents of Hyderabad.

As per existing government norms, no construction of any kind, irrespective of the ownership status is allowed on the lake bed.

[11][12][13] Out of the 169 large water bodies notified by HUDA, in first phase it was proposed to restore 87 lakes.