Commissioner of the Hyderabad Disaster Response & Asset Protection Agency A.V.Ranganath, on Thursday, laid the foundation stone for the development of Ramanthapur Pedda Cheruvu, in the second phase of lake development.

In the first phase, HYDRAA had taken up six lakes for development of which, three — Bathukammakunta in Amberpet, Bam Rukn-ud-Dowlah in Shivarampally, and Nalla Cheruvu in Kukatpally have been completed and launched. The other three, Tammidikunta and Sunnam Cheruvu in Madhapur, and Nalla Cheruvu in Uppal are awaiting launch after development.

In the second phase, 14 lakes were scheduled for development at a cost of ₹303 crore. They include Thoutonikunta in Khajaguda, Bhageerathamma Lake in Puppalguda, Erla Cheruvu in Madinaguda, Errakunta in Bachupally, Kapra Pedda Cheruvu in Kapra, Nallagandla Cheruvu in Nallagandla, Pedda Cheruvu of Gangaram, Kamuni Cheruvu of Moosapet, Rangadhamunikunta of Kukatpally, Ibrahim Cheruvu of Ibrahimbagh, Pedda Cheruvu of Nacharam, the lake in Krishnakanth Park in Yousufguda, and Turka Cheruvu in Nizampet, apart from the Ramanthapur lake.

Ramanthapur Pedda Cheruvu’s original extent is 30 acres, of which 16 acres was under encroachment. In 12 acres, permanent structures have come up, while temporary structures such as tin-roofed sheds and shacks have come up in four acres.

HYDRAA has informed through a statement that permanent structures would not be touched. The temporary structures occupied by daily wage labourers have been removed and 18 acres of the lake’s full tank level has been brought under the development project, it said. The government has taken a decision to allot double bedroom houses for people losing their homes in the project. A total 36 hut dwellers will benefit from the decision, the statement informed.