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Citizens’ drive breathes life into dying Shaikpet Lake
Can citizens salvage the fortunes of a lake? They can in a matter of hours. The Yerrakunta Lake, popularly called Shaikpet Lake, was nothing more than a cesspool on Friday but by mid-afternoon on Saturday, a whopping 15,000 metric tonnes of garbage was removed from the lake. Thanks to citizens’ initiative.
Hyderabad: Can citizens salvage the fortunes of a lake? They can in a matter of hours. The Yerrakunta Lake, popularly called Shaikpet Lake, was nothing more than a cesspool on Friday but by mid-afternoon on Saturday, a whopping 15,000 metric tonnes of garbage was removed from the lake. Thanks to citizens’ initiative.
About 150 volunteers from different age groups and occupations comprising school teachers, IT employees, students and nature lovers assembled at 7 am and cleaned the lake of debris. The brainchild behind the initiative, Madhulika Choudhary of Dhruvansh, said, “We have been working on Neknampur Lake conservation with reasonable success and thought of moving ahead with Shaikpet Lake. The response was overwhelming and the support from GHMC too is encouraging.”
Volunteers from Roda Mistry College of Social Work, Bank of America, Cognizant, Vasavi Engineering College, teachers of Oasis School and Krishnaveni Talent School, Babu Film Society and Hyderabad Kites Club, Resident Welfare Associations and people living near the lake pitched in.
In all 15 GHMC trucks were deployed and 15,000 metric tonnes of waste was removed from the lake. GHMC Zonal Commissioner Bharati Holikar, Additional Commissioner Mushraf Ali, solid waste management and other officials too took part in the cleaning and spent three hours at the site. Bharati Holikar said that all support would be given to protect the lake.
Locals said that just three years ago the lake was used for Ganesh visarjan. The GHMC had developed a bund, constructed a walkway, fenced the lake and constructed steps for easy immersion of Ganesh idols but due to garbage dumping the whole area got covered. Madhulika said there are sewerage pipes and the weir is blocked resulting in sewerage water seeping into the lake.
