Save Bum-Rukn-ud-Dowla lake, demands SOUL

Shivrampally: Following the survey of Bum-Rukn-ud-Dowla, a historic heritage 104-acre water body, opposite to National Police Academy in Shivrampally, the Socialist Party TS along with SOUL (Save Our Urban Lakes) alleged that despite repeated representations to save the water body those at the helm were ‘allowing annihilation’ of the lake. 

In a media statement, SOUL convener, Dr Lubna Sarwath demanded that the State government justify allowing annihilation of the historic lake that once used to supply mineral rich natural waters to the royals as well as public. Directly blaming the government that rather than feeling the necessity to conserve the lake along with its buffer zones and its channels, the developments on the site clearly shows its seriousness in safeguarding the existing drinking water sources. 

While referring to the numerous representations made to the departments like HMDA and Ministry of MAUD, she questioned as to why the authorities failed to make public the Full Tank Level (FTL) or maximum water spread boundary map of the lake till now, in spite of Aarvee consultants having surveyed the lake in February 2014. “In 2017 SOUL visited Bum Rukn-ud-Dowla lake. It appeared that the lake was struggling to survive encroachments and pollution. 

Despite being recorded in Survey of India toposheets, it is not mentioned in the notified list of HMDA (2016-17) where 1,316 lakes were mentioned. Till 2012, it is mentioned as ‘Bum Rukn ud Dowla lake but in the list of following year, it is mentioned as ‘HUDA park lake’. On several occasions we urged to clarify on the status of lake as well as the name of Lake, but of no avail” she lamented. 

While referring to the comparative satellite imagery, Lubna described this as the denial of fundamental right of the people to draw and drink waters from the lake and the adjacent Neher-e-hussaini heritage bowli. “In these times of water stress and adverse water balance, when we require more and more water holding capacity of lakes for rain waters, why lakes of a self-sufficient Hyderabad were being allowed to be converted to land?  Under which law or application of mind is this? We expect immediate restoration of the historic water body to its glory, so that people from Rajendranagar Mandal are able to proudly drink and use water from this lake and not have to beg for water to be piped from 200kms from Krishna or Godavari,” she added.