The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Clean up of Mir Alam Tank in full swing

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 13, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Clean up of Mir Alam Tank in full swing

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, APRIL 12. The filthy water of Mir Alam Tank is changing for the good. And with it, the lake is also in the process of washing away the muck from its surroundings.

The Hyderabad Urban Development Authority's (HUDA) Green Hyderabad Environment Programme is gradually transforming this erstwhile water source of the city into a tourist spot. Or, that is what the ambitious plans of HUDA and the Hyderabad MP, Asaduddin Owaisi, spell out.

The lake, which in its heydays, was a toast to the engineering skills of the Hyderabadis of yore, will soon have lush green parks on both sides and a tertiary Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) which will be thrown open to public to educate them on water treatment.

The ongoing work has already seen a 30-ft wide peripheral bund stretching across 6.7 km, stone revetment to the side slopes, a nursery, a chain link fence and others coming up.

On Tuesday, efforts were kicked off to cleanse the lake of its invasive occupants, the water hyacinth that was adding to the chemicals, effluent waste and garbage being dumped by nearby scrap dealers.

The water pollution here was so high that officials had pushed the lake into Category I Lake, which lists the most polluted water bodies in the State.

Three islands

According to Mr. Owaisi, the HUDA Chairman, D. Sudheer Reddy, and the HUDA Vice-Chairman, G. Ashok Kumar, the three islands in the lake would be its highlights.

One of these islands would be the first of its kind permanent bird habitat in the twin cities, where the public would not be allowed entry. Suitable flora and fauna would be planted and the island would be left undisturbed to the maximum point possible to allow birds live in peace.

Boat ride

Ornithologists and other interested persons could view the birds by making use of a proposed boat ride in the lake, they said. The other two islands would have restaurants, a children's park, gardens and other relaxation and entertainment facilities, Mr. Kumar said. The new look Mir Alam Tank is expected to be ready by December, he added.

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