5800 complaints received, 12 lakes restored, 200 acres reclaimed: HYDRAA’s report card

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Disaster Response Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has so far protected eight lakes,12 parks and four government lands from encroachers, since its inception in July 2024, said HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath.

The HYDRAA Commissioner unveiled the annual report of the agency, highlighting the agency’s achievements and ongoing initiatives.

5,800 complaints received by HYDRAA

Speaking to the media at Buddha Bhavan here on Saturday, Ranganath said that the HYDRAA has received over 5,800 complaints, of which the majority of them are related to unpermitted structures in municipalities and most of them have been disposed of.

Many Complaints received from public regarding the increase/decrease in lakes spread area or disappearance of a lake etc., were resolved by referring to Cadastral/Toposheets/Satellite Images of 1 meter resolution.

Residential Welfare Associations (RWAS) can represent the illegal occupation of parks, open spaces, roads and unauthorized construction etc., in their area. Sheds and other structures in the FTL area are unauthorized, and they are likely to be demolished, he said.

"The agency is covering around 2,000 sq.km area of operation for HYDRAA which means 35 per cent of Telangana Population. By 2050, the HYDRAA would cover around 50 per cent of the Telangana population due to urbanisation," he said.

"With the use of cutting-edge technology and satellite photos, we are detecting illegal structures. Public complaints will be given precedence," he said, and emphasised that the agency’s main goal is to prevent encroachment on parks, lakes, and lands—not just to carry out demolitions.

The HYDRAA Commissioner said that identification of lake encroachments, illegal structures and dumping of debris and construction material would be done through satellite images, drone/aerial images, and CCTV cameras installed at various vulnerable points. Land-filling, geofencing of parks, and government lands will be done using technology and with the assistance of various stake-holders, like revenue/survey department, GHMC etc.

Creation of a new HYDRAA police station is under consideration of the Government and likely to be grounded in next one month, he added.

Rejuvenation of 12 lakes

Ranganath said that there is a significant decline in groundwater levels in and around Hyderabad city. Additionally, the agency sent a proposal to the state government to revitalize 12 lakes where the HYDRAA carried out demolitions earlier and approval is awaited.

The 12 lakes– Sunnam Cheruvu (Guttala Begumpet), Errakunta (Bachupally), Thammidikunta (Madhapur), Erla Cheruvu (Chandanagar), Nala Cheruvu (Kukatpally), Nalla Cheruvu (Uppal), Bathukuammakunta (Amberpet), Thoutanikunta (Khajaguda), Bumrakh Dowla Lake (Rajendernagar), Appa Cheruvu (Gaganpahad), Errakunta (Tarnaka) and Katwa Cheruvu (Dundigal).

200 acres of land reclaimed by HYDRAA

Highlighting the achievements of the HYDRAA, he announced that the agency has reclaimed 200 acres of land. He claimed that because of HYDRAA's efforts, the public is now much more aware of the illegal constructions in buffer zones and Full Tank Level (FTL) areas.

"When buying new plots and apartments, people are now more cautious," he remarked. After determining the FTL borders, the Commissioner added, demolition would start. "HYDRAA is prepared to act with 15 committed teams. No prior notices are issued for illegal constructions within water bodies, as there is no requirement for such notices.”

Elaborating further, Ranganath said that fixing of FTL for lakes and demarcation of Nala (of 3rd and 4th order) boundaries is underway. About 1,025 water bodies were identified by the agency through Survey of India Toposheets, cadastral/village maps, revenue records, satellite images and aerial images. Demarcation of FTL for the Lakes/Kuntas is being done through Cadastral maps, sethwars, 1956 khasra pahanis, Lake Memoirs, Survey of India Toposheets, Satellite Images of 1 meter resolution between 2000 and 2014, Aerial/Drone Images of 2006 and 2023 for Digital Elevation Model(DEM)/Digital Terrain Model(DTM), Bathymetric Survey etc.

Towards this, an MoU with NRSC, and the assistance of Survey of India and various satellite agencies is being contemplated on the anvil. Earlier studies on Nalas by Kirloskar and Voyants are under consideration. "We are utilizing technology to draw lake boundaries and buffer zones. We are working with NRSE to get satellite images, and we will also use aerial drone images. We are also gathering photos from 2000 to 2024 to monitor changes in pond areas, and measures have been taken to geo-fence government lands,” he said.

Disaster Response

The HYDRAA Commissioner said at present the agency has 30 DRF teams, and it would be increased to 72 teams to extend its operations up to ORR from January 2025 onwards. The DRF Training center at Nagole will be further upgraded. The existing DRF teams have so far addressed 4,684 complaints, which include 3,428 tree falls, 912 water stagnations, 199 rescue calls, and the tackling of 133 fire accidents, he said.

“We have requested the Director General of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) to establish an additional Doppler Weather Radar for Hyderabad city to ensure accurate and uninterrupted weather forecasts,” Ranganath said.

Road Map

Ranganath said that a proposal to increase the number of Automatic Weather Stations would be taken up with the government for accurate weather predictions. A separate technical wing composed of scientists for evaluating weather data and issuing public alerts is being contemplated.

"We intend to establish an FM channel to give the public access to real-time weather updates and related information. Apart from that, the agency is also creating public awareness about FTL/Buffer, encroachments on water bodies etc. and reorienting and redefining real estate growth in Hyderabad,” the HYDRAA Commissioner said, and added that about 100 DRF personnel were trained and deployed for traffic duties in Hyderabad and Cyberabad Commissionerate.