Sunday, November 27, 2011

CONSERVATION OF HUSSAIN SAGAR LAKE, TWIN CITIES, ANDHRA PRADESH

Dear All

In continuation to the earlier posting on the key area of Lake Conservation, i shown keen interest to support the  issue and plan of conservation of Hussain Sagar Lake. It was well known to the people Twin Cities as a fresh water lake and later turned into a lake of pollutants. The process of research and conservation is going on to get back its olden glory. Still much needs to be done. One of the key component of extent of pollution to the groundwater is missing in the action plan. With the use of Geophysical Tools, a study has been made and submitted to the CSE. The abstract of the same is furnished below as:
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  CONSERVATION OF HUSSAIN SAGAR LAKE – NEED OF ASSESSING GROUNDWATER POLLUTION, HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH.

Lakshmi Narayana Nagisetty
Director
Bhuvanesh Kumar N
Volunteer
Geo Rehabilitation Centre
Hyderabad. A.P.
Cell: 09392445973.
ABSTRACT

Key words: Groundwater, Pollution, Resistivity, Quality, Urbanization, Industrialization, Encroachment, Scanning, Evaluation, Monitoring.

          The conservation process of Hussain Sagar Lake lacks in understanding the pollution caused to the groundwater in general and particularly in it’s downstream.  The objective of the proposed study includes: collection of water samples from the wells existing around the lake and particularly in the downstream, assessment of the water quality, geophysical scanning for mapping of fractures & leakages, suggestions for drilling of observatory bore wells, scanning of boreholes with geophysical tools, consolidation of data, and additional dimension to the ongoing conservation action plan.     

          Hussain Sagar Lake has been developed and used for catering the irrigation and drinking needs of the people of Hyderabad and Secundrabad known as “Twin Cities” up to 1930. Later on, it has lost its purpose and shape in view of: loss of catchment due to encroachment in view of urbanization, development of industries, poor recharge or flow of rainwater from the catchment, flow of effluents through existing channels which later turned into nalas, dumping of sewerage and other domestic & industrial waste, contamination due to immersion of religious idols and other man made discharges.

          As the severity of pollution has exceeded the limit of tolerance, people brainstormed the issue to get out of the present unpleasant water and its surrounding environment. In this direction, a project titled “Hussain Sagar Lake and Catchment Improvement Project” has been initiated with the objective to improve the lake water quality by preventing pollutants entering in to the lake both point source & non-point sources of pollution, besides removal of nutrient rich sediments and interception & diversion of dry weather flows and improvement of nalas in catchment area. The process is going on to take necessary measures for preventing the challenges seen on the surface. The objectives of the project don’t concentrate much on the damage caused to the groundwater in the surrounding areas in general and particularly in the downstream area covering the stretch with Indira Park, Domalguda and adjoining areas which is more complex to regain or treat the pollution. The research studies made on these challenges do not focus on the possible groundwater pollution. Suitable strategy has been presented at National Seminar (1995 by Author itself) organized by APSSB and more attention is required to address the challenges and thus to regain lake’s olden golden glory.          

       Understanding the complexity of the lake water contamination and its possible influence on the groundwater of the surrounding area in general and particularly the downstream area, the methodologies proposed are: collection of water samples from the existing open / bore wells; its quality assessment; deployment of geophysical scanning tools covering resistivity, magnetic, ground probe radar (GPR) & bore well tools; and other supporting geological & hydrological tools. The deployment of techniques depends upon the feasibility of the area. It is expected that budget may not be the constraint as the lake is the best monument of twin cities which has got international recognition in terms of religious and recreational purpose and further to cater the needs of the people after it’s conservation.         

          The results of the geophysical and supported geological & hydrological testing will be integrated with other inputs of the project for aiming an effective action plan in achieving its targeted objectives. The study certainly emerges valid and effective conclusions in resolving the groundwater pollution caused due to the contamination of the lake water. Based on the outcome of the study and complexity of other inputs / component of the Hussain Sagar Lake conservation, necessary recommendations will be made to regain its glory what it had before 1930.   
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Looking forward for your reflections and suggestions...

with thanks

1 comment:

  1. Lucated in Secunderabad, the Twin City of Hyderabad, Hussain Sagar lake is one of the popular tourist places to visit in the city. For tourist accommodation, check out these hotels in Secunderabad.

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