National Dam Safety Experts Praise HYDRAA’s Lake Restoration Model

The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has received appreciation from a national panel of dam safety experts for its ongoing efforts to restore and protect the city’s lakes. The committee described HYDRAA’s approach as a potential model for lake conservation across the country.

A team headed by Dr Shailesh Kumar Srivastava, Chairman of the National Dam Safety Committee, visited Fox Sagar Lake on Wednesday along with officials from the Irrigation Department. During the inspection, the experts reviewed the condition and safety of the lake’s main bund, which forms a key part of its water-retention infrastructure.

Fox Sagar has an FTL area of 482.6 acres. HYDRAA has included the lake in its Phase-3 development programme, with plans aimed at improving water storage, conserving the lake and protecting its surrounding environment. Younus, Director of Vimos Technocrats, briefed the committee on the proposed restoration and development measures.

The experts took particular note of HYDRAA’s efforts to restore the lake’s natural inlets and outlets. They said preserving these traditional water-flow channels, along with strengthening the lake bunds, was essential for improving the long-term resilience of water bodies.

The committee also appreciated the agency’s efforts to protect lake boundaries and prevent encroachments on public assets. Members said safeguarding the original extent of lakes was critical not only for water management but also for protecting the city’s ecological balance.

The experts praised HYDRAA for taking a comprehensive approach to lake restoration rather than focusing solely on water storage. According to the committee, protecting catchment areas, maintaining natural inflow and outflow systems and strengthening lake infrastructure can help ensure that restored water bodies remain sustainable over the long term.

The committee members said HYDRAA’s work to revive Hyderabad’s lakes and preserve them for future generations was commendable. They observed that the methods being adopted in the city could provide a useful template for other urban areas facing challenges related to encroachments, deteriorating water bodies and declining storage capacity.

The recognition comes at a time when efforts to restore Hyderabad’s lakes are gaining greater attention, with the focus extending beyond beautification to water security, environmental protection and public asset conservation.