Hussainsagar lake

 

Hussainsagar lake separates Secunderabad from Hyderabad and the bund across it links up the twin cities.

The main purpose of this lake was to supply drinking water to the twin cities. As the population of the city swelled, the lake could not supply the required daily volume of water. Moreover, due to increased pollution in the catchment areas as a result of industrial effluents, the water has become unfit for drinking purposes.

The basic features of the lake are:-



* year of construction 1562 A.D.
* Cost (in 1562 A.D.) Rs. 2,54,636
* Catchment area 240 sq.km.
* Free catchment area 173 sq.km.
* Intercepted catchment 173 sq.km.
* Maximum water spread area 5.7 sq.km
* Water spread area in dry season 3.41 sq.km
* Volume of the lake 28.6 106 m3
* Average depth at full capacity 5.02 m3
* Yearly normal rainfall 770 mm


Hydrological Status of the lake:- There are basically four drains, which bring in storm water into the lake, 1. The Banjara Hills nallah (entering from the west) 2. The Balkampet channel (entering from the South-West side) 3. Picket nallah (entering in the north-east corner) and 4. The Kukatpally nallah (entering at the north west corner).

Inflows into the Hussainsagar lake2:-

Source Domestic Induatrial Total
Kukatpally 55.5 15.0 70.0
Picket nallah 13.3 - 13.3
Balkampet nallah 13.3 - 13.3
Banjara Hills 3.0 - 3.0
Total 75.3 15.0 90.3

Hydrological Balance of Hussainsagar Lake

S1No. Item Normal Year (Mm) Dry Year (Mm)
1. Direct Rainfall 5.4 3.8
2. Run off
28-33		 10.0
3. Artificial Inflow
(sewage) 10-14		 10.14
4. Evaporative loss 12.5 12.2
5. Percolation losses 3.0 3.0
6. Artificial outflow 3.4 3.4
7. Leakage through
spill way		 5.0 4.0
7. Spill over 20-25 2.4 


1&2 source: SoE of Hyderabad Urban Agglomeration, EPTRI, 1997.
A glance at the above tables shows that the inflow of domestic sewage and industrial effluents into the Hussainsagar lake is very high, reducing the lake to a bin for untreated wastes.
 
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