Tel sanctions Rs 100 cr for beautification of Osman Sagar lake

The Telangana government today accorded administrative sanction for Rs 100 crore to take up the beautification of Osman Sagar lake, one of the main drinking water sources of the city, at Gandipet.
Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration, Arvind Kumar issued orders in this regard, an official release said.
The expenditure will be met directly from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) funds.
A task force--'Gandipet Lake Development Task Force'---will be set up under the aegis of the HMDA involving Tourism, Revenue, Irrigation, Water Board, the Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Ltd (TSSPDCL) and Social Forestry, Kumar said.
HMDA will come out with an action plan to make the lake a perennial source of drinking water.

Further, while developing an eco-friendly recreational tourist destination,the HMDA shall incorporate the latest and best components available world over and would integrate with nature and green cover seamlessly, he said.

The HMDA has proposed to make the Osman Sagar(also called as Gandipet) lake a holiday destination for tourists, without compromising on the water quality and without taking up any activity which affect the quality of the water body directly or indirectly.
"Initially it is proposed to take up the walking track, cycling track, road formation, chain link mesh fencing, street lighting, shoreline strengthening, and landscaping around the periphery of Osman Sagar for length of 25 kms," he said.

"Once these works are taken up commercially viable components such as revolving restaurant, cable car, house boats, night camping area, food courts etc. on Public Private Partnership or lease mode will be taken up," said the principal secretary.