Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has razed as many as 314 structures since June 27, 2024, when it was created, said HYDRAA commissioner AV Ranganath.
In an exclusive interview with the NewsMeter, Ranganath said that the agency had reclaimed 120.22 acres until November 26, 2024, as part of the demolition drive on the unauthorised structures encroaching upon the FTL or buffer zones of the water bodies.
The prominent areas where large-scale demolitions happened are Film Nagar, Gajularamaram village, Gandipet Lake, Kanapur, Gandipet Chilkur, N convention and Ameenpur Lake–where the maximum reclamation of 51.78 acres occurred, he said.
Action on officials
Informing the action initiated on the officials involved in the irregularities, the HYDRAA commissioner said that so far, legal action has been taken against 11 government officials for manipulating FTLs levels, approving construction on government land and colluding with builders.
Among them, six officials are from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), and three engineers—one from HMWSSB (Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board). “The agency has written to the State government to initiate action against these officials. The ACB cases have been registered against the six GHMC and HMDA officials,” he said.
Ranganath also said that around 3,000 acres of government land falling under Jawahar Nagar has been encroached over a period of time (encroachers include politicians). The area tahsildar has been asked to give a detailed report. The value of the land ranges between Rs 20-30 crore per acre, he added.
HYDRAA police station
Giving a detailed outline of the initiatives to be taken by the agency, he said that the HYDRAA would soon have a police station headed by an IPS officer who will be of the ACP rank. The ACP rank official would be backed by three SPs who would be called additional commissioners for Hyderabad, Rachakonda and Cyberabad. Moreover, the State government is thinking of deploying young IPS officials for this.
Citing an instance of HYDRAA’s action on unauthorised structures, he said, “The agency will write to banks asking them to explain why loans were approved for buildings constructed on government lands and why they should not be prosecuted. In the recent case at Manikonda, the HYDRAA questioned the SBI bank and asked it to explain why no legal action should be initiated against them.”
2025, the year for lake restorations
Explaining HYDRAA’s plans for 2025, Ranganath said 2025 would be the year for lake restorations. The agency is working with different tech-based companies on the protection of the lake, flora and fauna. The department will also be working with the Telangana Pollution Control Board (TPCB) to reduce the emissions of pollutants into the water bodies, he added.
“We have invited advocates for a brainstorming session on how to go about legally in certain cases where courts are involved. We have stopped relying on ground-level officials who colluded with the builders. In many cases (citing Ameenpur) there is a political motive among the officials as well,” Ranganath said and added that the HYDRAA is now carrying out its inspections.
