Durgam Cheruvu, the secret lake in Madhapur, is rich in biodiversity, but is not getting the attention it deserves because too many departments are involved in its management.
The irrigation department is the owner of the lake, the hill slopes belong to the GHMC and the HMDA, and the tourism department developed the infrastructure such as the cottages.
Activists allege that there is no coordination between these departments to protect the biodiversity of the area. The lake area hosts some endangered species such as the Red Sanders.
Durgam Cheruvu is spread over 65 acres and is surrounded by hills to an extent of 100 acres with a variety of flora and fauna. Activists of the Forum for Good Governance prepared the list of flora and fauna of Durgam Cheruvu and submitted it to the HMDA, GHMC and the APTDC.
Mr M. Padmanabha Reddy, a retired IFS officer, says, “In the past, the steep hill slopes were treated with ‘in-situ’ moisture conservation methods to improve the biodiversity. There is a lack of coordination between various departments. They work in isolation. They must coordinate efforts to improve the area. There are many species of trees, grass, birds, reptiles here and the area can be declared a biodiversity park for conservation purposes.”
Even a sewer flows into the Durgam Cheruvu as HMWS&SB has failed to plug it. It all goes to show just how little impact the big biodiversity conference, hosted by the city with much fanfare, has actually had on government agencies.