FTL & Buffer Zone
Full Tank Level (FTL) for Lakes in Telangana
Full Tank Level (FTL) refers to the maximum water level a lake or reservoir can hold before it starts overflowing. In Telangana, FTL plays a crucial role in managing and maintaining the water bodies, ensuring that lakes are filled to optimal capacity for ecological balance, irrigation, drinking water supply, and groundwater recharge.
Importance of FTL in Telangana Lakes:
- Water Management: Monitoring FTL helps prevent flooding during heavy rains and ensures enough storage during dry seasons.
- Irrigation Support: Many lakes and reservoirs in Telangana are crucial for agricultural irrigation, and maintaining the FTL ensures farmers have access to adequate water.
- Environmental Balance: Proper FTL management supports biodiversity, maintaining habitats for aquatic life and other flora and fauna.
- Groundwater Recharge: By maintaining lakes at FTL, natural groundwater recharge is enhanced, which is essential for sustaining water tables in the region.
Challenges:
- Illegal Constructions: Encroachments around lakes have led to reduced FTL in several regions, limiting the capacity of lakes and increasing the risk of urban flooding.
- Silt Accumulation: Over time, silt deposits in lakes reduce the effective FTL, decreasing water storage capacity and affecting water availability.
Government Initiatives:
The Telangana government, through its Mission Kakatiya program, focuses on restoring and rejuvenating lakes and tanks to their FTL, ensuring sustainable water management for both urban and rural areas. Efforts are also being made to remove encroachments and implement stricter monitoring around FTL boundaries to protect these valuable water resources.
What Is HYDRAA
HYDRA stands for Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection. It was established as part of an initiative to manage disaster response more efficiently in Hyderabad. HYDRA’s role includes monitoring assets, protecting natural resources, and coordinating among various city departments like GHMC, Water Works, and police.
One of its key goals is to handle encroachments on lakes, drainage systems (nalas), and government lands. HYDRA also has the authority to manage urban development across the Greater Hyderabad limits, including surrounding municipalities and gram panchayats up to the Outer Ring Road (ORR). It aims to improve city infrastructure and environmental protection through better planning and coordination among municipal and disaster management departments
