National Dam Safety Panel Praises HYDRAA Lake Restoration at Fox Sagar

The National Dam Safety expert committee has commended the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection Agency (HYDRAA) for its lake restoration and development efforts, noting that the agency's approach could serve as a national model.

Committee members, led by chairman Dr Shailesh Kumar Srivastava, visited Fox Sagar in Hyderabad on Wednesday to inspect the lake's main bund, overall condition, and safety measures. The panel stated that HYDRAA's strategy of safeguarding the natural features of water bodies while upgrading safety and water management systems could be replicated in other parts of the country.

During the visit, officials briefed the committee on HYDRAA's comprehensive plans for Fox Sagar, which spans a Full Tank Level area of 482.6 acres. The restoration work is being executed under Phase 3 of HYDRAA's major lakes restoration programme in Hyderabad.

The project focuses on securing lake boundaries, protecting public assets, and preserving the surrounding environment while maintaining water storage capacity. HYDRAA's ongoing work also involves upgrading catchment inlets that channel floodwater into the lake and outlets designed to drain excess water when full capacity is reached.

Additionally, the agency is strengthening lake bunds without disrupting their natural environment. The visiting committee members noted that these conservation measures would effectively protect public assets and preserve the city's water bodies for future generations.