Hyderabad’s rocky heritage needs preservation similar to its lakes, said HYDRAA commissioner AV Ranganathan during a session on International Geodiversity Day, hosted by the Society to Save Rocks on Friday.
Ranganathan emphasised HYDRAA’s commitment to safeguarding Hyderabad’s geological heritage, highlighting the often-overlooked importance of geodiversity. “We rarely think about preserving rock formations, some of which are as ancient as 2.5 billion years, yet their protection is as vital as our lakes,” he stated.
HYDRAA plans a data-driven approach to rock conservation, beginning with a comprehensive survey to compare current formations with historical records to measure loss. “We’re considering a collaboration with the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), who previously helped us identify that 61% of Hyderabad’s lakes were encroached upon between 1979 and 2024,” Ranganathan said.
Acknowledging the city’s real estate boom, he noted that now is an ideal time to prioritise rock preservation, with proposed actions including detailed mapping, geolocation tagging, and buffer zones around key rock sites. “Strict enforcement will be key, with penalties for illegal encroachments, quarrying, and other destructive activities,” he said.
