“The bad odor emanating from Hussain Sagar lake will soon going to be the thing of past. The one nala (drainage) which is coming from Kukatpally is polluting it. It is yet to be diverted. The diversion work of the same will be completed soon”, informed Chiranjeevulu, HMDA Commissioner, while speaking at Awards presentation ceremony of The 2nd Edition of Hyderabad Kayakathon, jointly organized by Telangana Tourism, HMDA and The Yacht Club of Hyderabad.
“We will be developing four more parks in the 95-acre Sanjeevaiah Park on the lines of Rose Garden. Some of these gardens likely to come up are Kashi Vanam, Bamboo Vanam and Nakshatra Vanam”, he said.
Another chief guest, Burra Venkatesh, Secretary of Tourism, Government of Telangana said, we want to make Hyderabad the most happening city. We will make Hyderabad the city to be visited for all reasons and all seasons, he said. Joining his colleague from HMDA on the bad odour emanating from the lake, B. Venkatesham said plans are on the anvil to plant hundreds of Fragrant and Aromatic Saplings around Hussain Sagar Lake to counter bad odour, so that people can get good smell, he added. The Hussain Sagar lake will become one of the best smelling lakes. It will turn from bad smelling to best smelling lake very soon he told the gathering amidst cheers.
He said the lake, which is in the middle of the city, is very advantageous. Sports activities like Kayakathon and many such can be taken up on regular basis. “Soon we will make Hussain Sagar a Celebrations Spot. Tourism Department along with Cultural Department will come up with a one year Calendar of Events in and around Hussain Sagar Lake. This will be announced on Ugadi Day. People can plan activities around that calendar of events so that they don’t have to approach us for special permission. Government alone cannot do many things. We can only facilitate things. It is up to people to plan those activities”, he said. “We will also plan activities around Buddha statue coinciding with some Buddhism related festival”, he said. Similarly, the department was also planning to hold Bathukamma festival around the entire stretch of Hussain Sagar Lake, Venkatesham told.
Kayakathon is a water sport like Marathons and 10K runs that exercise the lower body, the Kayakathon tests upper body endurance and fitness. It has become the largest water based event in Hyderabad apart from the Monsoon Regatta in July informed Suheim Sheikh, Founder of The Yacht Club. Both the guests gave away prizes to the participants of Kayakathon. (NSS)