Hyderabad residents take out rallies in support of HYDRAA’s civic improvement drives

Hyderabad: Residents from several colonies and localities across Hyderabad have come out in strong support of HYDRAA, the civic initiative credited with improving urban living conditions.

Amid what they call ‘malicious propaganda’ against the project, locals, particularly from middle- and lower-income communities, organised rallies, demonstrations and plantation drives to highlight HYDRAA’s positive impact on the city.

Rallies laud HYDRAA’s achievements

Carrying placards reading ‘HYDRA Zindabad’, citizens took to the streets in various neighbourhoods, praising the body’s efforts to protect public spaces, parks, and lakes from encroachments.

At Amberpet’s Bathukamma Kunta, morning walkers hailed HYDRAA’s contribution to environmental protection, while on Wednesday, around 15 colonies in the Manikonda area organised a major rally.

Participants displayed posters stating that HYDRAA had saved parks worth over Rs 1,000 crore in Manikonda Municipality, ensuring much-needed green lungs for the city.

Residents from Neknampur Village and Tirumala Hills joined the event in large numbers, while in Khajaguda’s Prasanthi Hills, participants planted saplings in parks reclaimed from illegal occupation.

Similar demonstrations were held in Kondapur and Osmania University Professors Colony, where residents celebrated the protection of over 4,300 square yards of public-purpose land.

In Raghavendra Colony, a felicitation meeting was held for HYDRAA officials who preserved a 2,000-square-yard park area.

HYDRAA is the city’s shield, say residents

Protesters questioned why hundreds should suffer for the greed of a few, stressing that HYDRAA has delivered justice to lakhs of citizens by stopping encroachments and restoring public spaces. They asserted that without HYDRAA, Hyderabad’s parks and lakes would have been lost to land grabbers.

Many residents credited the agency for preventing flooding during this year’s heavy rains by clearing decade-old silt from stormwater drains, ensuring the smooth flow of water. “HYDRAA fought shoulder-to-shoulder with the rain god to save our roads,” read one placard. Another declared, “A flood-free city is possible only because of HYDRAA.”

Clarifying misconceptions

Several citizens cautioned against spreading misinformation about HYDRAA. They pointed out that recent social media posts falsely accused HYDRAA of demolitions in Chandrayangutta’s Hafeez Baba Nagar.

In reality, officials clarified, those demolitions were part of GHMC’s road-widening and nala works, with compensation already paid to affected property owners.

Residents emphasised that HYDRAA’s activities have remained non-political, driven solely by civic needs and environmental protection.

“The team has resolved decades-old problems within days. We stand firmly with HYDRAA because they are working for the city’s welfare,” said a community representative from Manikonda.

Public sentiment: ‘HYDRAA must continue’

The rallies reflected widespread public sentiment that HYDRAA’s work is indispensable to Hyderabad’s future. Citizens described it as a “protector of the city” that not only safeguards parks and lakes but also ensures cleaner neighbourhoods and healthier urban living.

“Encroachers must be stopped, and HYDRAA is the only one capable of doing it,” said participants. From children to senior citizens, the message was clear: Hyderabad needs HYDRAA to keep the city green, safe and flood-free.