Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), in collaboration with the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), has expedited repairs to the historic Katora Houz near Golconda, with hyacinth within a few weeks from the tank.
The cleaning work of the Katora Houz started on March 7 with the cleaning of the tank and consequently JCBs were deployed for the purpose. While the GHMC was looking at cleaning the tank, HMDA provided the necessary machinery needed to remove the weeds and hyacinth from the tank.
The civilian body had earlier appropriated funds for the restoration works. Although the Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation planned to transform the historic tank into a tourist attraction, the civilian body later accepted the responsibility.
This 460-year-old tank hit by apathy has been taken over by water hyacinth, litter and weeds for several decades, except that it has turned into a mosquito breeding ground caused by nearby residents.
However, with the intervention of the Department of Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD), the tank is on the way to a new life. “Katora Houz is being cleaned of water hyacinth,” said Arvind Kumar, general secretary of MA & UD.
The GHMC planned to clean up Katora Houz itself last year, but the Covid-19 pandemic hampered the proposed works.
The Katora Houz was built by the Qutub Shahi rulers in the 16th century and was formerly a freshwater storage tank. Over the decades, however, it has been left in the lurch and slowly turned into an ideal place for dumping.
According to officials, the proposed activities after cleaning the lake include drilling wells, lighting, paving, landscaping, beautification and boating. The idea is to make Katora Houz, a new tourist destination in the city.
Source: Telangana Today