Fox Sagar Lake

Fox Sagar Lake, also Jeedimetla Cheruvu or Kolla Cheruvu, is a manmade lake and was the largest waterbody in Secunderabad.[3] It was once spread over an area of 290 acres (1.2 km2). As of 2014, due to encroachment, it only occupied a surface area of 126 acres (0.51 km2).[4] The lake which is located Jeedimetla near Kompally was built in 1897 by Mahbub Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI and as per some sources the lake occupies a surface area of 2 square kilometres (490 acres) and some sources claim that it is the second biggest lake in Hyderabad and was a popular spot for picnics.[1]

Fox Sagar Lake
Fox Sagar Lake
LocationHyderabad
Coordinates17.524°N 78.470°E / 17.524; 78.470
Typereservoir
Primary inflowsMusi
Primary outflowsMusi
Basin countriesIndia
Surface area2 square kilometres (490 acres)[1]
Max. depth33 feet (10 m)[2]

History
View of Fox Sagar Lake and its pump house in 1897
The pump house at Fox Sagar Lake

The lake was built in 1897 and was a major source of drinking water to residents of Secunderabad. The lake was built before the construction of Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar, were built in the Musi river. This lake was once linked to Hussain Sagar by a tributary of Musi river. [3]

Description

The lake is spread over an area of 2  km2.[5] A stone structure built as pump house is still existing on the lake shore. However, the steel structures have rusted. As per some sources, the lake water was used for irrigation till few decades ago and the lake was also used for fishing. Today the water is unfit for consumption due to heavy pollution and its surface area has reduced to one third of its original size due to illegal encroachments by real estate developers. Fox Sagar lake is supposed to be the second most polluted lake in Hyderabad.[3] Some efforts have been initiated by government agencies and volunteers to rejuvenate and clean Fox Sagar lake.[6]

References
  1. M. L., Maitreyi Mellu (11 November 2017). "Efforts to restore Fox Sagar". The Hindu. Hyderabad. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  2. "Two more spells of rain will lift Osman Sagar, Himayat Sagar gates". The New Indian Express. Hyderabad. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  3. Syed, Akbar (20 September 2017). "E120-yr-old Fox Sagar now dump for toxic chemicals". Times of India. Hyderabad. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  4. C, Sarala; B, Venkateswara Rao (1 November 2014). HYDROLOGY AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT. institute of Science & Technology, JNTU. ISBN 9788184249521. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  5. http://www.soulhyd.org/articles/HydLakeHistory.pdf.pdf
  6. "Rejuvenating Fox Sagar lake". The Hindu. Hyderabad. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2018.


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