Mini Tank Bund in major crisis

Malkajgiri: The Safilguda lake, also popularly known as the mini Tank Bund of Secunderabad, is now in deep peril with trash piles choking its water and lake banks thereby causing inconvenience to walkers and residential colonies that live in its vicinity. 

Highlights:

•   Inaugurated in the year 2000, the Safilguda lake which is the only lung space for residents in the area has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other water-borne diseases
•    One would be surprised to know that over 56 varieties of migratory birds like the green-backed heron, Kingfishers, black ducks, and storks are a star attraction at the lake from mid-November to January

Officials' apathy in maintaining the water body has left it in a state of neglect threatening the lives of several organisms that live or depend on the lake's water for their survival. 

Inaugurated in the year 2000, the Safilguda lake which once is the only lung space for residents in the area has today become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other water-borne diseases making it impossible for people to be anywhere around it especially in the evening. 

Moreover, pungent odour of the dead rotting wastes that seem to emanate from the lake's polluted water causes suffocation and also has a great impact on the health of those staying in its neighbourhood.

One would be surprised to know that over 56 varieties of migratory birds like the green-backed heron, Kingfishers, black ducks, and storks are a star attraction at the lake from mid-November to January yet there has been not much of effort by the government to promote the lake as a bird watcher's paradise. 

"When the lake's water was restored in the early 2000s we were all very happy and even the government promised to develop it as a tourist spot. 

Hardly did we know that the water body would have to suffer again. Visitors who come to the lake don't think once before throwing food wrappers, plastic bottles etc in the lake and with even the officials turning a blind eye to the lake's problems, the mini Tank Bund has been finally reduced to a dump yard."  expresses Raghunandhan, a senior citizen.

Moreover, effluents from the nearby households too are being discarded into the lake. When enquired, K. Venugopal, GHMC Deputy Commissioner of Malkajgiri division explains, "The responsibility of maintaining the water body is shared between the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. 

 We are regularly cleaning the lake's water and during the special festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi we also install Built and Operate Toilets discouraging open defecation into the water body.

 It the HMDA staff in charge of the lake maintenance who are not doing their part. People who visit the lake are not even scared that they would be penalised if they throw anything into the lake because there is no one supervising their activities."