It has been 11 years since the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has undertaken an exercise to identify the full tank level (FTL) and buffer zones of lakes and tanks, but final notifications for over 3,000 lakes in its jurisdiction have been hanging fire. HMDA could issue the final notification, which is must to determine buffer zone and FTL of a lake, for less than 10% of the total 3,500 lakes in the metropolitan region. Also, it could not even complete the preliminary survey for over 1,000 lakes. HMDA is now rushing collectors to complete the survey of lakes in their jurisdiction.

In the wake of HYDRAA razing illegal constructions that came up in FTL and buffer zones of water bodies, HMDA has asked collectors of seven districts – Rangareddy, Mechal Malkajgiri, Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Medak and Hyderabad – to complete the survey at the earliest. HMDA's lake protection committee (LPC) took up the survey of lakes in 2013.

After HYDRAA got into the thick of action, real estate developers and buyers are now knocking the doors of HMDA and GHMC to confirm FTL and buffer zones of various lakes. Some of the buyers are asking the project developers to get an NOC to ensure that they will not face any problems with their properties in future. GHMC and HMDA have been giving building and layout permissions based on NOCs from the irrigation and revenue departments. However, in some instances, these have been found to be unreliable, sources said.

Official sources said that in the past two years, only 300 lakes were surveyed, and it is expected to take at least another year to complete the survey and issue final notifications for all the lakes in the metropolitan area.

After the revenue and irrigation departments along with local civic authorities conduct a survey with revenue and other maps, HMDA gives a preliminary notification along with maps, survey numbers, extent of lake and details such as coordinates of the lake. After the details are notified, people can give their objections and suggestions on the preliminarily notification.

HMDA and LPC issue final notification of the lakes with maps, survey numbers, extent with details such as each survey number, water spread area, etc. Once the final notification is issued, it cannot be altered, an official explained.

Officials said the survey on many lakes could not be completed as the lakes' extent and survey numbers of revenue and irrigation departments were not matching. Now, HMDA has fixed targets for the collectors to complete the survey and notifications. HMDA officials said since Aug, 65 lakes have been surveyed and 269 preliminary notifications issued and 30 of them published on HMDA website. Each lake was given an ID number. Collectors have also sent details of 51 lakes for the final notification, which are under scrutiny.

Official sources said that in the past two years, only 300 lakes were surveyed, and it is expected to take at least another year to complete the survey and issue final notifications for all the lakes in the metropolitan area. After the revenue and irrigation departments along with local civic authorities conduct a survey with revenue and other maps, HMDA gives a preliminary notification along with maps, survey numbers, extent of lake and details such as coordinates of the lake.

After the details are notified, people can give their objections and suggestions on the preliminarily notification. HMDA and LPC issue final notification of the lakes with maps, survey numbers, extent with details such as each survey number, water spread area, etc. Once the final notification is issued, it cannot be altered, an official explained.

Officials said the survey on many lakes could not be completed as the lakes’ extent and survey numbers of revenue and irrigation departments were not matching.