Hyderabad: The 100-acre Ameenpur lake, the city’s second biggest bird viewing zone that is being upgraded as the state’s first biodiversity heritage site, is under severe threat.
Called the birding paradise of Telangana after the Icrisat campus, which is not open to the public, Ameenpur lake is home to 171 species of resident and migrant birds.
Apart from birds, the lakes host a variety of fish, amphibians and reptiles including eight varieties of snakes such as checkered keelback and Russell’s viper.
The biodiversity site has insects, butterflies and reptiles such as the oriental garden lizard, rock agama and fan-throated lizard.
The zone actually hosts the 93.15-acre Ameenpur lake or Peddacherruvu and five smaller ones: Kummarikunta (11.28 acres), Kothakunta (7.39), Settykunta (17.18), Bandamkunta (7.38) and Mallannakunta (39.18 acres).
However, neighbouring colonies and industries let out sewage and waste into the lake. Its feeder channels have been closed. The catchment area and the land abutting the lake have been encroached upon.
Birds and reptiles are killed and the lake is used for adventure sports, according to a report filed by the Telangana Special Protection Force.
The report sent to the chief secretary also states: “Construction of apartments is undertaken in Surveys No. 322, 323, 324 which are within the full tank level area of Kothacheru of Ameenpur village.”
A. Hari Krishna, member of Hyderabad Birding Pals, said: “Fish and insects are food for the birds. Many fish in this ecosystem have died as dangerous pollutants enter the lake. With little food, the birds are flying away to other places and are simply abandoning the lake.” He added that the lake is drying up and losing its precious eco-system to pollution.
Rajiv Khandelwal, a bird-watcher, said, “Migratory birds arrive at the lake between July and October, but there has been a decline in numbers. Ameenpur lake is nature’s treasure within, but its face has been changing.”
Asked about the pollution levels in the lake, a Pollution Control Board official said a task force has been set up to inspect industries located around Ameenpur lake.
The team inspected seven industries following which the board ordered closure of one and issued directions for control of pollution to six others.
