Hyderabad’s water bodies are facing a deepening environmental crisis, with a recent assessment by the Telangana Pollution Control Board (TPCB) revealing that none of the city’s 185 lakes meet acceptable water quality standards. The findings highlight alarming levels of pollution, raising concerns about public health, ecology, and long-term water sustainability.
According to the report, major lakes including Hussain Sagar and Durgam Cheruvu exhibit critically low dissolved oxygen levels, a key indicator of water health. In addition, tests detected the presence of heavy metals and untreated sewage inflows, pointing to persistent contamination from industrial discharge, urban runoff, and encroachments.
Environmental experts warn that deteriorating water quality threatens aquatic life and undermines lake rejuvenation efforts carried out over the past decade. Low oxygen levels can lead to fish deaths and algae blooms, while heavy metals pose long-term risks to humans through groundwater contamination and food chains.
The assessment also flagged issues such as poor sewage treatment, inadequate enforcement, and continued encroachment around lake buffers as major contributors to the problem. Despite multiple restoration projects and beautification initiatives, experts stress that cosmetic upgrades alone cannot address systemic pollution without strict regulation and accountability.
Officials have acknowledged the findings and indicated that corrective measures, including tighter monitoring, improved sewage management, and coordinated action between civic agencies, are necessary to reverse the damage.
As Hyderabad continues to expand rapidly, the report serves as a stark reminder that protecting its lakes is critical not only for the environment, but also for the city’s resilience, climate balance, and quality of life.
