Hyderabad’s historic step wells are set to become part of the city’s water and flood-management strategy, with the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) announcing a focus on restoring the structures to support groundwater recharge and reduce waterlogging.
HYDRAA commissioner A.V. Ranganath and Telangana special chief secretary for environment Jayesh Ranjan outlined the initiative at the ‘Mee Baavi’ awareness programme organised by the Akarmaa Foundation at KBR Park. They said the restoration of step wells had been included under the CURE Act.
Ranjan said step wells had historically performed a function similar to lakes by helping rainwater seep into the ground during the monsoon. According to him, restoring these structures could help reduce flooding while protecting groundwater resources.
Telangana has more than 600 step wells, including over 160 in Hyderabad, the officials said. The structures are also historical landmarks, but their potential role in the city’s water system has gained importance as Hyderabad deals with groundwater stress and recurring waterlogging in several locations.
Ranganath said restored step wells could support future drinking-water needs by improving groundwater recharge and raising water levels in surrounding areas. He said the structures could help recharge aquifers, linking heritage conservation with local water management.
The announcement extends HYDRAA’s ongoing focus on restoring lakes across Hyderabad. Participants at the programme welcomed the agency’s lake-restoration work and urged it to apply a similar approach to the city’s step wells.
Akarmaa Foundation co-founder and architect Arunima Shankar said the foundation would work with HYDRAA to identify step wells located in areas that experience heavy waterlogging. The proposed collaboration will focus on identifying the structures and supporting their restoration along with the agency.
The initiative places Hyderabad’s step wells within a wider municipal challenge: preserving historic water infrastructure while bringing it back into active use as part of groundwater and flood-management efforts. The next stage will involve identifying suitable step wells and working with HYDRAA on restoration, according to the statements made at the programme.
