Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy praised actor Nagarjuna for handing over two acres of land for Thammidikunta Lake restoration in Hyderabad. HYDRAA restored the lake to 30 acres, highlighting the government’s efforts to tackle encroachments and rejuvenate urban water bodies.
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday praised popular Telugu film actor Akkineni Nagarjuna, describing him as a ‘real hero’ for handing over two acres of land to the government for the rejuvenation of Thammidikunta Lake in Madhapur, Hyderabad. The Chief Minister made the remarks during the inauguration of the restored lake, highlighting the importance of public cooperation in protecting water bodies and restoring the city’s natural resources.
Nagarjuna joined Revanth Reddy at the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday evening. The actor had voluntarily handed over two acres of land to the government last year as part of the efforts to restore the lake, which had suffered significant encroachment over the years.
The lake, located in the prominent IT hub of Madhapur, had reportedly shrunk to approximately 14 acres due to encroachments. However, following restoration work undertaken by the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), it has now been brought back to its original extent of around 30 acres.
HYDRAA had demolished Nagarjuna’s N-Convention Centre in 2024 over alleged encroachment on the lake’s land. The agency also removed other encroachments as part of its efforts to reclaim and restore the water body. Nagarjuna had previously denied that the convention centre had encroached upon the lake bed. However, he later came forward and handed over two acres of land to the government to support the restoration initiative.
Addressing the inauguration programme, Revanth Reddy appreciated the actor’s contribution and said his decision demonstrated responsibility towards society and environmental conservation.
“Akkineni Nagarjuna stepped forward with a generous heart and handed over 2 acres of land to the government. Nagarjuna has proven himself to be a hero not just in films, but in real life as well,” the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister’s appreciation highlighted the importance of cooperation between public representatives, citizens and prominent personalities in addressing environmental challenges, particularly the protection of lakes and other water bodies in rapidly developing urban areas.
Responding to the Chief Minister’s remarks, Nagarjuna praised Revanth Reddy’s commitment to environmental conservation and his vision for Hyderabad’s development. The actor said the Chief Minister had demonstrated a strong determination to protect the city’s lakes and rivers through restoration and beautification initiatives.
“He cares deeply about our lakes and rivers, and their rejuvenation and beautification are among his highest priorities. He is determined to restore them, whatever it takes. It was with this very vision that HYDRAA was created,” Nagarjuna said.
Thammidikunta Lake is among six water bodies selected by HYDRAA for restoration during the agency’s first phase of operations. According to the information shared at the programme, the agency has so far inaugurated four lakes following the completion of restoration work.
Speaking about Hyderabad’s environmental challenges, Revanth Reddy said the city was historically known for its distinctive landscape of rocks and lakes. However, he expressed concern over the disappearance of a significant number of lakes due to encroachments and other factors.
The Chief Minister stated that Hyderabad once had around 1,372 lakes, but nearly 50 per cent of them had disappeared over time. He warned that the destruction and encroachment of water bodies had contributed to urban flooding and waterlogging, particularly during heavy rainfall.
“Out of the 1,372 lakes that once existed in Hyderabad, 50 per cent have vanished due to various reasons. Encroachments on these lakes lead to water stagnation on roads whenever it rains. Residential colonies are becoming waterlogged. Everyone needs to reflect on this situation,” Revanth Reddy said.
He stressed that protecting existing lakes and reclaiming encroached water bodies were essential for improving Hyderabad’s environmental conditions and preventing recurring urban flooding. He added that the government’s vision was to transform Hyderabad into a world-class city while ensuring that environmental conservation remained an integral part of its development strategy.
“We are striving to establish Hyderabad as a world-class city. As part of this effort, we are restoring the city’s lakes,” he said.
The Chief Minister also spoke about the proposed rejuvenation of the Musi River, which has become heavily polluted over the years. He emphasised that the river’s restoration was not merely a beautification project but a comprehensive effort to revive its ecological condition and improve the surrounding environment.
Referring to the historical importance of river-based civilisations, Revanth Reddy said several major settlements across the world had developed along rivers. He also recalled that the Nizam had undertaken development of the Musi River basin nearly a century ago, recognising its importance to Hyderabad.
The Chief Minister announced that the first phase of the Musi River rejuvenation project would be launched soon. He also assured that people and communities affected by the project would receive appropriate relief.
“The lives of the city’s residents are deeply intertwined with the Musi River. This is not just about beautifying the Musi; it is about its complete rejuvenation. The Musi must be cleaned, and our lakes must be liberated from the clutches of encroachment,” he said.
Revanth Reddy further appealed to political parties across Telangana to rise above political differences and extend their cooperation towards the restoration of the Musi River and the protection of Hyderabad’s water bodies.
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He said environmental conservation should be treated as a collective responsibility rather than a political issue, as the long-term benefits of restoring lakes and rivers would extend to future generations.
The restoration of Thammidikunta Lake marks another step in Hyderabad’s efforts to reclaim its traditional water bodies and address the growing challenges of urbanisation. The Chief Minister’s appreciation of Nagarjuna’s contribution also highlighted the role that individual cooperation can play in supporting government-led environmental initiatives.
