Hyderabad: Acting on a series of complaints, HYDRAA on Tuesday launched a major drive against encroachments along the Musi riverbed. The operation, carried out between Chaderghat Bridge and the Osmania Hospital mortuary in the Old City, targeted illegal constructions and commercial activities that sprang up over the years.Locals expressed concerns over sheds being built on the riverbed, which were then rented out for parking buses and trucks, as well as for other commercial ventures, including nurseries.Officials found that individuals had occupied large stretches of land within the riverbed by levelling it with soil and constructing sheds. Among the major encroachers identified were Jayakrishna, who encroached upon 5.22 acres; Thikaram Singh with 3.10 acres; and Poonam Chand Yadav with 1.30 acres. These makeshift structures were not only used for business purposes but were also reportedly hubs for anti-social activities, as per complaints from nearby residents.The sheds, initially constructed for private use, were rented out commercially, generating revenue from the illegal occupation of public land. Residents alleged that these areas became unsafe, with frequent disturbances reported late at night. Following mounting pressure and formal complaints, HYDRAA took swift action to reclaim the land, demolish the unauthorised structures, and restore the natural course of the Musi.Meanwhile, in another drive at Moosapet, nearly 2,000 sq yards of public land were reclaimed from illegal occupiers running commercial businesses. In both instances, residents filed complaints through Prajavani and other platforms, prompting swift action by the authority.
