Hyderabad’s Lakes Shrunk by 500% in 20 Years of Real Estate
Representative AI image HYDERABAD: A recent study reveals that Hyderabad has seen its water bodies shrink by nearly 500% from 2000 to 2020, decreasing from 12,535 hectares to just 2,280 hectares. This significant reduction has had a detrimental effect on the city’s natural water network. Concurrently, built-up areas have doubled from approximately 38,863 hectares to 80,111 hectares. Consequently, water levels in major lakes like Osmansagar, Himayatsagar, and Durgam Cheruvu have plummeted, pushing the city towards a critical water scarcity. M. Kamraju, a former research scholar from the Center for Economic and Studies, stated, “These water bodies—crucial for groundwater recharge and…