HYDRAA completes restoration of Nizams’ historic Rukn-ud-Dowla Lake

HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Lakes Protection and Rejuvenation Authority (HYDRAA) has nearly completed the restoration of the 18th-century Bum Rukn-ud-Dowla Lake, a key water body in the Old City that once supplied drinking water to the Nizams. The project is expected to be inaugurated by late November or early December.

A HYDRAA official said, “All bund-clearing works have been completed, and the beautification phase will begin shortly.”

Spread across 18.575 acres, with a water spread of 8.915 acres, the lake was built in 1770 by Nawab Rukn-ud-Daula, Prime Minister to Sikandar Jah, the third Nizam. Historians note that the Nizams relied solely on water from this lake, reflecting its cultural and historical value.

Encroachments removed, lake revived
Over time, encroachments and neglect had severely damaged the lake, with debris dumping and illegal construction shrinking its full tank level (FTL). On August 10, 2024, HYDRAA began a demolition drive to remove illegal structures within the FTL and buffer zone. The agency also desilted the lakebed, strengthened the bund, and cleared inlets to improve water flow.

Officials said the restored lake will soon feature landscaped walking tracks and serve both as a heritage site and public recreation space. The project marks HYDRAA’s first large-scale lake restoration initiative.

Following the Rukn-ud-Dowla work, HYDRAA has extended rejuvenation drives to several other lakes, including Amberpet Bathukamma Kunta, Kukatpally Nalla Cheruvu, Madhapur Sunnam Cheruvu, Uppal Nalla Cheruvu, and Madhapur Thammidi Kunta.

Key city drain narrowed by encroachments: HYDRAA
In a related inspection, HYDRAA commissioner A. V. Ranganath found that the nala carrying floodwater from Devarayamjal Cheruvu and Pothaipally Cheruvu to Gundlakunta Cheruvu has narrowed from nine metres to just two metres due to encroachments in Thumkunta municipality.

Following complaints received under the Prajavani programme, officials observed that the narrowing had caused repeated flooding in nearby colonies. Residents reported inundation during recent rains and blamed the replacement of the open nala with underground pipelines for restricting stormwater flow.

HYDRAA also reviewed encroachment complaints at Nallagandla Pedda Cheruvu, where natural channels had been altered. “Any obstruction or deviation from natural lake flow paths will be corrected,” an official said.

The agency is verifying whether construction activities by Aparna Constructions have affected the buffer zone or inflow channels at Nallagandla Cheruvu.