HYDRAA demolished illegal structures on Patny Nala in Secunderabad Cantonment to restore its original 70-ft width. Locals, plagued by monsoon floods, welcomed the action. Over 70% of the nala was encroached, prompting a major anti-encroachment operation and future flood-prevention plans.
Updated On – 6 June 2025, 11:31 AM
Hyderabad: The early hours of Friday saw Hyderabad Disaster Management and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) rolling in bulldozers to pull down unauthorized structures built on Patny Nala in Secunderabad Cantonment.
A day before the demolition, the HYDRAA Commissioner, A V Ranganath, and SCB Chief Executive Officer, D Madhukar Naik, conducted a joint inspection along the Patny Nala. Locals from nearby colonies, who are affected during inundation every monsoon due to Patny Nala overflowing, showed photos of the flood-affected areas at the time of inspection.
The width of the Patny Nala is 70 ft, but due to the construction of numerous illegal structures, including shops, washrooms, and security rooms, the nala shrank to between 15 ft and 18 ft. Residents of Paigah Colony, Patny Colony, Viman Nagar, BHEL Colony, and Indiramma Nagar met the HYDRAA Commissioner and represented the Patny Nala encroachment.
During the joint inspection, both HYDRAA and SCB officials noticed that over 70 percent of the Patny Nala was encroached by land sharks. After restoring the original width of the Patny Nala, the SCB officials decided to build retaining walls along the Patny Nala.
The Patny Nala was seen with debris piled up on a large scale. Upon learning about the demolition activity, locals thronged to the Patny Nala. Police were deployed at the site. The HYDRAA released drone visuals of the Patny Nala to the media.
