HYDRAA ends 2024 with demolition drive at Bhageerathamma Lake in Khajaguda

Hyderabad: HYDRAA (Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency) continued its demolition spree on Tuesday, the last day of 2024, amid tight police security in Khajaguda of Serlingampally mandal here.

Tension prevailed for a while at Bhageerathamma Lake in Khajaguda when the enforcement teams from HYDRAA carried out a demolition drive on alleged unauthorised structures in the buffer zone of the lake.

The teams removed over four acres of fencing laid around vacant land in the buffer zone of the lake and removed a wine shop operating on the premises. With this, the HYDRAA reclaimed around 10 acres of government and lake land from the encroachers.

After the demolition, the teams also placed signage boards marking the site as ‘government land’. After receiving complaints from the locals, recently HYDRAA commissioner AV Ranganath inspected the lake along with Tautanikunta in Nanakramguda and Neknampur in Narsingi and alleged illegal construction was blocking floodwater canals, diverting the flow of rainwater.

Demarcating FTL and buffer zone of Bhageerathamma Lake

According to the HYDRAA officials, Bhageerathamma Lake was spread over 54 acres in Nanakramguda Survey No. 150, 151 and Survey No. 450, 451 in Puppalaguda, Rajendranagar mandal as per the limits decided by irrigation authorities in 2013. The lake FTL and buffer zone have been extended to Nanakramguda, Khajaguda and Puppalaguda villages under these two mandals.

In October 2013, Irrigation North Tank Division officials prepared a map showing there were 48 acres of water (Lake ID 2924). The encroachments have been sporadic for some time now. It has been found that the lake has been drained and encroached upon by a section of people. Taking serious note of the matter, the HYDRAA chief ordered the officials to remove the encroachments immediately.

Local businesses slam sudden demolitions

“We have already issued notices to the encroachers here to remove the fencing around the tank in the prohibited area. As many as 10 structures were demolished and the rest were given time. We also made it clear to them that if the encroachments are not removed in time, they will also be demolished,” the HYDRAA officials said.

Meanwhile, the traders operating their businesses in the buffer zone of Bhageerathamma Lake expressed their ire against HYDRAA.

“How were they allowed to demolish structures that have existed for a long time? Why can’t they give us more than a day’s notice? What can we do in a day? Why aren’t they demolishing the buildings of wealthy and well-off people?” said a local store owner. Refrigerators, TVs and valuables in the shops were destroyed in the demolitions, he added.