HYDRAA has nothing to do with Musi River catchments areas’ survey: AV Ranganath

Hyderabad: Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA) Commissioner AV Ranganath on Monday said that the agency has nothing to do with the survey on the Musi River catchment areas.

Ranganath made this statement after scores of people irrespective of age groups took to the streets in the Musi River catchment areas and appealed to the State government and the HYDRAA not to relocate them and carry out a demolition drive.

Revenue officials surveyed and identified those eligible for rehabilitation

A couple of days ago, officials from the revenue department and other government departments amid tight police security conducted a survey in the Musi River catchment areas – Chaithanyapuri, Hydrashakote, Sri Venkateswara Colony, Chaderghat, Musanagar, Shankar Nagar, Phanigiri Colony, Indira Nagar, Ganesh Puri colony and other localities in Ranga Reddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts.

The revenue department officials gathered the details of the houses constructed around the Musi River and its catchment areas and identified those eligible for rehabilitation. Later, they marked the houses in the buffer zone of the Musi River.

‘HYDRAA only aims to save water bodies from encroachments’

“The HYDRAA is not evacuating the residents and the agency is not undertaking any demolitions there. The agency also did not mark the houses in the Musi River catchment area. Musi River beautification is a special project. It is being developed by Musi Riverfront Development Corporation,” Ranganath said.

He further said that HYDRAA only intends to release the water bodies from encroachments, but not carry out demolitions.

‘Social media spreading panic’

“The HYDRAA will not demolish the houses of poor and middle-class families. People should be aware of it and shouldn’t believe the false propaganda. The agency’s perimeter is up to the Outer Ring Road (ORR). Demolitions not just in the city and the State, but also in other States are being attributed to HYDRAA and social media is spreading panic among people,” Ranganath said.

The HYDRAA commissioner also clarified that the agency will do more than just demolitions. The agency would also take care of measures for the conservation of natural resources, and protection of ponds, lakes, canals, roads and residential areas during rains and floods, he added.