Hyderabad, Oct. 1 (Maxim News): The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has begun restoring a historic 1.50-acre stepwell beneath the Bum Rukn-ud-Daula Lake in Shivarampally.
The restoration follows directions from Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and aims to preserve the historic structure while improving its environmental and public value.
The well is associated with the Nizam-era history of Hyderabad. Historical accounts say its naturally filtered water was regarded for its medicinal qualities and was used by the Nizam-era rulers.
The restoration is expected to be completed within two to three months, according to the project details provided.
Historic Well Linked to Nizam-Era Water Tradition
The Bum Rukn-ud-Daula Lake has a long history dating to the late 18th century. Historical records, including a National Green Tribunal report, place its construction around 1770 during the reign of Sikandar Jah, the third Nizam, by Nawab Rukn-ud-Daula, who served as prime minister.
The lake originally covered around 100 acres, while other historical records put its original extent at about 104 acres. Over the years, encroachments and neglect reduced the waterbody to only about four to 4.5 acres. HYDRAA subsequently reclaimed and restored the lake to around 17 acres.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy inaugurated the renovated lake on March 8, 2026. HYDRAA Commissioner A V Ranganath had highlighted the lake’s historical significance during the restoration process.
According to the project account, Ranganath also brought the historic well to the Chief Minister’s attention. Following the direction to restore it, Vimos Technocrats, which worked on the lake restoration, was entrusted with the well project.
The well had deteriorated after years of neglect. Plastic waste, garbage, soil, silt and dense vegetation had accumulated in the area, affecting its water-holding capacity.
Historical accounts associated with the site say water passed through vegetation and medicinal plants around the lake before naturally filtering into the well. The resulting water was regarded as clean and medicinal.
Some accounts further say medicinal tree branches, bark and flowers were placed in the lake and that water from the resulting natural filtration reached the well.
Stories also claim that the water was transported to distant locations during the Nizam period, although these accounts should be treated as historical narratives rather than independently established facts.
HYDRA Links Restoration to Heritage and Public Awareness
HYDRA is presenting the well restoration as a combination of heritage conservation, environmental improvement and public benefit.
The agency aims to preserve the neglected historic structure and help citizens, students and future generations understand Hyderabad’s traditional water-management practices.
The lake and its historic well are also being presented as examples of the city’s relationship with natural water filtration, vegetation and traditional water conservation.
The restoration of Bum Rukn-ud-Daula Lake has already brought the historic waterbody back into public focus. The revival of the well is now intended to preserve another part of the site’s heritage and restore its water-storage function.
With the well restoration work now underway, the project is expected to bring the historic structure back into public view within the next few months.(Maxim News)
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