Telangana: Bhadrakali Lake Restoration Begins; Fishermen Protest

 Warangal: Authorities on Saturday began restoration of the Bhadrakali lake, constructed 900 years back by the Kakatiya rulers in the heart of Hanamkonda city.

The water body, originally spreading over 621 acres and having the Siddeshwara Swamy temple on its banks, attracted nature lovers and devotees all these years. Encroachments of over 200 acres has shrunk the lake and cccumulation of two-metre deep silt has reduced its capacity.

Several colonies came up around the lake, along with illegal constructions in FTL and buffer zone. Its water is polluted due to release of sewage from surroundings which include zoo park, function halls and illegal apartments. and enormous water hyacinth have buried its past glory.

The lake, once the main source of drinking water for Warangal, Hanamkonda and Kazipet, has diminished to become just a water body and is used by fishermen for growing fish.

Its total storage capacity is 150 million cubic feet (mcft) but, due to siltation and encroachments, the water overflows if the volume reaches 132 mcft. The state government has decided to restore the lake by getting it rid of silt and water hyacinth and increase the storage to 200 mcft.

With the orders of district in-charge minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, officials started empting the lake by removing a part of the bund from where water breached at Kapuwada and decided to release around 500 cusecs of water daily for 15 to 20 days.

Assistant executive engineer of the irrigation department Radhika said that if all the water is released at one time, it would inundate the surrounding colonies.

The released water is supplied to Nagaram lake in Hasanparthy mandal. After emptying the lake, silt and soil will be removed, she said.

Meanwhile, fishermen protested release of water from the lake. Association president Puli Rajini Kanth said around 450 fishermen families were dependent for their livelihood on the lake which holds fish worth Rs 2 crore.

They withdrew the stir after an assurance from the district fisheries department officer Nagamani. They were told their problem will be brought before the higher authorities. Nets will be placed in the area from where water is to be released so that they can catch the fish.