HYDRAA to take up stepwell restorations to help water conservation measures in Hyderabad

Special Chief Secretary Jayesh Ranjan, HYDRAA Commissioner A. Ranganath and Kaushik of Akarma Foundation at the event on stepwells. | Photo Credit: Serish Nanisetti

The Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) developed for lake conservation will now also be used for stepwell restoration in Telangana. Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency Commissioner A. Ranganath made the announcement during a public awareness and conservation programme for stepwells in Hyderabad, and said the programme is likely to go national.

“We are having a meeting with Union Home Secretary next Tuesday, on Hyderabad, water, flood mitigation, and drought situations. So from Hyderabad, I’m representing. We have now thought that apart from the lake reservation, we’ll also include the stepwell conservation,” informed Mr. Ranganath.

“’I am sure that, especially in the present scenario with this El Nino factor, where we are facing this water crisis, the stepwell conservation becomes all the more relevant. You’re watching how HYDRAA has been restoring many lakes, and many of the lakes had totally disappeared, and you don’t even realise that there was a lake existing prior to. From that scenario, we have now gone and restored a lake,” he said. “The stepwells are more decentralised than lakes. A number of lakes near temples and stepwells have disappeared altogether. But once we restore these stepwells I am sure it will have a positive impact on the groundwater table,” said Mr. Ranganath.

“Similarly, I’m sure that Telangana has more than 600 stepwells and Hyderabad has more than 160 stepwells. I’m sure the number would be much higher,” he said 

Earlier, Akarma Foundation mounted an exhibition of stepwells that showed the legacy of Telangana with water and its conservation.

Earlier speaking about lake conservation, Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary to the Government in the Environment, Forests, Science and Technology (EFS & T) Department said the water crisis has made people realise the old models of water conservation. “We have incorporated a number of measures for conservation of water in the CURE Act,” said Mr. Ranjan.

Published - November 14, 2026 11:50 am IST