Mystery of a missing sewage treatment plant tells the tale of the lake in Krishnakanth Park
Currently restricted to about three acres and divided into three separate ponds with interconnecting canals, the water body is now set to be increased to 12 acres
The lake at Krishnakanth Park in Yousufguda has undergone significant changes over the past two decades, leading to the recent announcement by the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Development Agency (HYDRAA) for its expansion and restoration. Currently occupying about three acres, the lake is set to grow to 12 acres. Trees are being felled and translocated, reducing the park's 22-acre space.
The project aims to alleviate flooding in Ameerpet and surrounding areas during rain. The missing Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) from years ago is a key piece of the puzzle. Once established in 2003-04 to maintain the three ponds within the park, the STP was later abandoned due to lack of maintenance, despite functioning correctly to prevent sewage from entering the lake.
The park's transformation began when it was a garbage dump before being turned into a beautiful park in 2004 under the leadership of then Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. The lake's original 22-acre size held a massive water body that once supplied water for crops, but urban development and waste disposal led to its decline.
The STP, with a capacity of 0.6 million litre treatment per day, was built on the park's south-west corner, feeding purified water to the lake and managing stormwater. However, the STP has been non-operational since 2021, with no records of its de-commissioning by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). The current location of the STP is now under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Solid Waste Limited (HIMSW).
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