PLANNING DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES FOR AMEENPUR LAKE, HYDERABAD

Abstract

This study focuses on developing sustainable planning and design strategies for the restoration and management of Ameenpur Lake, located in Hyderabad. Urban expansion, unregulated land use change, and increasing anthropogenic pressure have significantly affected the ecological and hydrological functioning of the lake system. The study identifies key issues including degradation of natural drainage patterns, loss of ecological buffer zones, risk of wastewater inflow, and uncontrolled public access. The research adopts an integrated planning approach combining spatial analysis, hydrological assessment, and ecological evaluation. GIS-based analysis was used to examine land use patterns, slope, drainage networks, and critical zones influencing lake health. Based on the analysis, a set of comprehensive proposals has been developed focusing on decentralized wastewater treatment, ecological buffer restoration, sustainable drainage systems, shoreline stabilization, and controlled public access. The planning framework emphasizes a catchment-based approach, recognizing that lake sustainability depends on both internal management and external land use regulation. The study also proposes an implementation strategy supported by phased development, institutional coordination, and financial planning mechanisms. The outcomes of the study aim to enhance water quality, restore biodiversity, improve hydrological balance, and create a sustainable interface between urban development and natural ecosystems. The proposed model can serve as a replicable framework for urban lake restoration in rapidly growing metropolitan regions.