Hyderabad: The Telangana high court on Wednesday declined to issue any interim order to restrain Hyderabad Disaster Response & Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) from demolishing illegally constructed buildings.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J Sreenivas Rao, which was hearing a PIL by Dr KA Paul, said there was no need for an order against HYDRAA as the govt has informed that due procedure was being followed.The court, however, directed the state and HYDRAA to file their counter to the PIL.
Paul, in his PIL, alleged that HYDRAA was demolishing houses on Musi riverbed without issuing notices to owners and urged the court to restrain officials for at least 10 days. He contended that HYDRAA had demolished 462 buildings across Hyderabad during the last couple of months without notice or survey.
Paul said: “HYDRAA is showing discrimination during demolition drives. It is razing homes of the poor near Musi without notice, whereas houses of high-profile people constructed on lake FTLs have been issued notices.” Chief Justice remarked, “In a PIL, it is the duty of advocate general and standing counsel for HYDRAA to reply to the contentions raised by the petitioner.”
Additional advocate general Imran Khan said the state was adhering to rules. He also submitted that authorities had marked houses under FTL and buffer zone of Musi but there were no demolitions.
State counsel Katika Ravinder Reddy said the state has special plans for Musi and HYDRAA has nothing to do with it. The state will take care of all Musi oustees, he said.
