HYDRAA to take up stepwell restorations to help water conservation measures in Hyderabad

Hyderabad's Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency has announced that the SOPs developed for lake conservation will now also be utilized for stepwell restoration in Telangana. This initiative is part of a broader water conservation and flood mitigation strategy, which the agency is considering implementing nationwide. A. Ranganath, the agency's commissioner, made the announcement during a public awareness and conservation program for stepwells in Hyderabad.

He emphasized the importance of stepwell conservation, particularly given the current water crisis exacerbated by the El Nino factor. Ranganath noted that many lakes that once existed have disappeared, and the restoration of stepwells could help replenish groundwater tables. Telangana and Hyderabad are estimated to have over 600 and 160 stepwells, respectively, suggesting the potential for significant impact through restoration efforts.

Earlier, Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary for the Environment, Forests, Science and Technology department, highlighted that the water crisis has brought attention to traditional water conservation models, leading to the incorporation of new measures into the CURE Act.