JerilynSturgess at 21:00, 20 March 2026

2026-03-20T21:00:25Z

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{{Short description|Features of the capital of Telangana, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Lakes in Hyderabad
| image = Water bodies and rivers map of hyderabad.jpg
| caption = Water bodies and lakes of Hyderabad
| area = ≈{{cvt|40|km2}}
| volume = ≈50 million m³ - 100million m³ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ
(1.77 billion ft³ - ㅤㅤㅤ3.53 billion ft³)
| date-built = Late 1600's - Early 1700's
| location = Hyderabad
}}

[[File:Blue water,hussian sagar lake,hyderabad,A.P - panoramio.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Hussain Sagar]] is the biggest lake in Hyderabad.]]
The Indian city of [[Hyderabad]] was known as '''City of Lakes'''. Some of these lakes are natural and various are man made bodies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-hyderabad-floods-2020-lakes-6821184/|title=Explained: Why the 2,800 lakes in Hyderabad could not prevent a flood this year|date=21 October 2020 }}</ref> As per various sources only a few decades back, Hyderabad had a large number of [[water bodies]] such as lakes, reservoirs, rivers, streams, aquaculture ponds, tanks, etc (as per some sources between 3000 and 7000 including natural and manmade bodies. Locally known as ''cheruvu, kunta, tanks'' ).

Most of these lakes and tanks were built during the regime of Qutub Shah in 16th and 17th century and later by Nizams as a source of drinking water for the residents of Hyderabad.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://watertales.wwfindia.org/water_story_hyderabad.php |title=Why Is Hyderabad Running Out of Water? |publisher=[[World Wildlife Fund]] |access-date=2018-11-08}}</ref><ref name=blue>{{cite web|url=http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/downloads/hybad_dos.pdf| title=Hyderabad's water blues: Lakes, rivers fall prey to urbanisation |publisher=RainWaterHarvesting.org |access-date=2018-11-08}}</ref>
[[File:KhajagudaLake.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Khajaguda Talab]]
[[File:Himayath sagar lake view.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Himayat Sagar]] which was once a major source of drinking water for Hyderabad]]

As of 2025, the [[Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority]] currently keeps record of 2959 lakes in the Hyderabad metropolitan area and 27 lakes in the city of hyderabad.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lakes.hmda.gov.in/|title=Lakes}}</ref>

==Destruction of lakes==
As per the data from National Remote Sensing Centre, between 1979 and 2023 there has been a reduction of 61% in city’s lake area. Area occupied by 56 lakes were examined and it was found that the total area of these lakes has shrunk from 40.35 km2 (15.58 sq mi) 16 km2 (6.2 sq mi).Most of these lakes have totally disappeared and the surface area of most of the surviving lakes have shrunken and turned to tiny ponds and cesspool.<ref>{{cite news |last=B. |first=Nitin |date= 2018-12-28|title= Say your goodbyes to Hyderabad lakes |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/say-your-goodbyes-hyderabad-lakes-citys-water-bodies-shrinking-stinking-mess-54934|language=en|work=The NEWS Minute|location=Hyderabad |access-date=2018-11-05}}</ref>

Some of the lakes which have totally disappeared are Tigal Kunta, Somajiguda Tank, Mir Jumla tank, Pahar Tigal Kunta, Kunta Bhawani Das, Nawab Saheb Kunta, Afzalsagar, Nallakunta, Masab Tank etc.<ref>{{cite report |author=Ravi Kumar |date=September 2013 |title=Ground Water Brochure|url=http://cgwb.gov.in/District_Profile/Telangana/Hyderabad.pdf?bcsi_scan_50e22d9f1bebc2c5=0&bcsi_scan_filename=Hyderabad.pdf |access-date=2018-11-08 |department=Central Ground Water Board, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India |location=Hyderabad}}</ref>

Hussainsagar Lake, Kunta Mallaiyapalli have also shrunk drastically.<ref>{{cite news |last= Nanisetti |first=Serish |date= 2017-10-14|title= In Hyderabad, lakes are nothing but urban myths |url= https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/in-hyderabad-lakes-are-nothing-but-urban-myths/article19862817.ece|language=en |work=[[The Hindu]] | location=Hyderabad |access-date=2018-11-05}}|</ref>

Out of thousands of water bodies those were existing in 1970s in various sizes in and around Hyderabad, today only about 500 of them have survived. Most of them have disappeared due to encroachment or have been illegally drained for real estate projects by private or government agencies. The existing lakes have been used to dump garbage and sewage water. Most of these lakes and tanks were built during the regime of Qutub Shah in 16th and 17th century and later by Nizams as a source of drinking water for the residents of Hyderabad.<ref name=blue/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://watertales.wwfindia.org/water_story_hyderabad.php |title=Why Is Hyderabad Running Out of Water? |publisher=[[World Wildlife Fund]] |access-date=2018-11-08}}</ref>

The [[Jubilee Bus Station]] is located where once the Picket lake used to exist. [[Madhapur]] the IT hub of Hyderabad once used to be a network of lakes. The ''MaSaheba Tank'' which is now [[Masab Tank]] has also almost disappeared and today is occupied by various residential and commercial buildings.<ref name="TimesIndAug24">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/hyderabads-lake-area-shrinks-by-61-in-44-years/articleshow/112478775.cms|title=61% of Hyderabad's lake area shrunk in 44 years|newspaper=[[Times of India]]|date=2024-08-13|last=Rajani|first=Amisha|access-date=2024-10-14}}</ref>

The area of Hussain Sagar, which is the largest lake in Hyderabad shrunk by more than 40% i.e. from 550 ha to 349 ha in just 30 years. This lake was built in 1575 AD and since 1930 is not being used as a source for drinking water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cseindia.org/cases-on-protection-of-lakes-2563 |title=Cases on Protection of Lakes |date= 2011-05-09|publisher= Centre for Science and Environment|access-date= 2018-11-08}}</ref>

Similarly, the area occupied by Shamirpet lake shrunk from 486 ha in 1989 to 256 ha in 2006. In total about 3245 ha of water bodies were lost in 12 years (from 1989 to 2001) as per the report by [[Anjal Prakash]].<ref>{{cite report |last1= Prakash |first1=Anjal|date=2013-03-04 |title=Lakes of Hyderabad: Would they survive? |url=https://cdn.cseindia.org/userfiles/anjal_prakash_hydlakes.pdf|access-date=2018-11-09|department=South Asia Consortium for Interdisciplinary Water Resources Studies|location= Hyderabad|publisher= Centre for Science and Environment|publication-place=New Delhi }}</ref>

==Lake Revival Efforts by HMDA==

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has been actively involved in the restoration and rejuvenation of lakes within the Hyderabad Metropolitan Region, focusing on ecological rehabilitation, water quality improvement, groundwater recharge, and environmental sustainability.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hmda.gov.in/ |title=Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority |access-date=September 1, 2025}}</ref>

Following a High Court directive, HMDA and GHMC identified ten priority lakes for immediate rejuvenation, including Durgam Cheruvu, Malkam Cheruvu, Kapra Lake, and Hussainsagar.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/hc-seeks-lakes-revival-report-from-state-government-within-week/articleshow/65988964.cms |title=HC seeks lakes' revival report from state government |publisher=The Times of India |date=September 2018 |access-date=September 1, 2025}}</ref> More recently, 12 lakes were earmarked for revival, such as Bathukammakunta in Amberpet and Mundikunta near the Hyderabad International Convention Centre.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.news9live.com/city/hyderabad/hmda-ghmc-announces-revival-of-12-lakes-in-hyderabad-check-list-of-waterbodies-2751905 |title=HMDA, GHMC announces revival of 12 lakes in Hyderabad |publisher=News9Live |date=December 2024 |access-date=September 1, 2025}}</ref>

{{wide image|Durgam Cheruvu Panorama.jpg|1800px|alt=Durgam Cheruvu panorama|Panoramic view of the city of [[Hyderabad]] from the recently renovated Durgam Cheruvu lake (scroll on the photo to see the entire lake) }}

The Hyderabad Disaster Response & Asset Protection Agency ([[HYDRAA]]) has taken up six lake restoration projects, including Bathukamma Kunta, which began refilling naturally after decades of neglect.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://urbanacres.in/hyderabad-lake-revival-gains-momentum-as-bathukamma-kunta-begins-to-fill-after-decades/ |title=Hyderabad Lake Revival Gains Momentum as Bathukamma Kunta begins to fill |publisher=Urban Acres |date=August 2025 |access-date=September 1, 2025}}</ref> [[HYDRAA]] has set a target to complete all six projects by mid-2025 and even developed a 3D transformation model for Nalla Cheruvu in Uppal.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/hydraa-starts-work-to-restore-6-city-lakes/articleshow/118366980.cms |title=HYDRAA starts work to restore 6 city lakes |publisher=The Times of India |date=March 2025 |access-date=September 1, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.siasat.com/lake-rejuvenation-across-hyderabad-a-priority-says-hydraa-chief-3190540/ |title=Lake rejuvenation across Hyderabad a priority, says HYDRAA chief |publisher=Siasat |date=April 2025 |access-date=September 1, 2025}}</ref>

Private firms have also collaborated with HMDA, such as the Kotha Cheruvu project with GEF India and The Durgam Cheruvu project with raheja or the malkam cheruvu project with Aparna Real estate.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/firm-joins-hands-with-hmdato-rejuvenate-kokapet-lake/articleshow/117158031.cms |title=Firm joins hands with HMDA to rejuvenate Kokapet lake |publisher=The Times of India |date=January 2025 |access-date=September 1, 2025}}</ref>
To coordinate lake conservation efforts, HMDA established the Lake Protection Committee, responsible for monitoring and safeguarding urban water bodies.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hmda.gov.in/lake-protection-committee/ |title=Lake Protection Committee – Hyderabad – HMDA |access-date=September 1, 2025}}</ref>

==Lakes of Hyderabad==
A compiled list of lakes, their ID, District, Mandal and related news can be found on the government website of HMDA.

[https://lakes.hmda.gov.in/ HMDA Government website]

These are some of the most famous lakes in hyderabad with a short description of them,

1. [[Hussain Sagar]]
Area: 5.7 km²

Location: Hyderabad, Telangana

Details: An artificial lake built in 1562, it was once the main source of drinking water for the city.

2. [[Shamirpet Lake]]
Area: 4.9 km²

Location: Shamirpet, Hyderabad

Details: An artificial lake built during the Nizam era in the 19th century, popular for its scenic beauty and as a picnic spot.

3. [[Fox Sagar Lake]]
Area: 2 km²

Location: Jeedimetla, Hyderabad

Details: A man-made lake constructed in 1897, it was once a major source of drinking water for Secunderabad.

4. [[Himayat Sagar]]
Area: 19.68 km²

Location: Ranga Reddy, Telangana

Details: An artificial lake built in 1927 to supply drinking water to Hyderabad and to protect the city from floods.

5. [[Osman Sagar]]
Area: 46 km²

Location: Hyderabad, Telangana

Details: Constructed in 1920, it serves as a major reservoir supplying drinking water to the city.

6. [[Durgam Cheruvu]]
Area: 0.34 km²
Location: Hyderabad, Telangana

Details: Also known as 'Secret Lake,' it served as a drinking water source during the Qutb Shahi dynasty. It has a total of 140 species of birds and is the most famous lake in hyderabad as of September 2025.

7. [[Saroornagar Lake]]
Area: 0.4 km²
Location: Hyderabad, Telangana

Details: Created in 1626, it was restored in 2003–04 and is now home to various migratory birds.

8. [[Ameenpur Lake]]
Area: 0.38 km²

Location: Ameenpur, Hyderabad

Details: Recognized as India's first Biodiversity Heritage Site, this lake is home to numerous migratory bird species.

9. [[Rukn-ud-Daula lake]]
Area: 0.42 km²

Location: Shivrampally, Hyderabad

Details: Constructed in 1770 by Nawab Rukn-ud-Daula, it was built to meet the drinking water supply needs.

10. [[Mir Alam Tank]]
Area: 1.2 km²

Location: Central Hyderabad

Details: The largest lake in the Old City, it is the site of the Nehru Zoological Park.

==See also==
* Stepwells in Hyderabad
* [[Lakes in Bangalore]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Asia topic|List of lakes in}}

{{Commons category|Lakes in Hyderabad, India}}

[[Category:Lists of lakes of India|H]]
[[Category:Hyderabad, India-related lists|L]]
[[Category:Lakes of Hyderabad, India| ]]

Lakes in Hyderabad - Revision history

JerilynSturgess at 21:00, 20 March 2026