HYDRAA police station to be launched early February; inauguration by CM Revanth

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is likely to inaugurate HYDRAA’s exclusive police station adjacent to Buddha Bhavan, Secunderabad, in the first week of February.

CM Revanth Reddy, who went abroad to participate in the World Economic Forum (WEF)-2025 in Davos, Switzerland, is scheduled to come back on January 24.

HYDRAA commissioner AV Ranganath inspected the facilities set for inauguration at the HYDRAA police station. He suggested officials arrange sign boards near the police station and ensure proper parking for the public to reach the premises to lodge their complaints.

“The HYDRAA’s dedicated police station will file cases, including those against the encroachment of government lands. On January 7, the Telangana government issued a government order to establish the police station after HYDRAA requested a separate station to handle cases involving land grabbers, encroachers, public property damage, public property defacement and other asset protection services and HYDRAA activities,” Ranganath said.

An ACP-rank officer will be SHO of HYDRAA police station

In July 2024, the Telangana government established HYDRAA to preserve government and public assets such as lakes from encroachment and other illicit activities. The Station House Officer (SHO) of the police station will be an assistant commissioner of police rank officer, and cases will be assigned to the SHO by the HYDRAA commissioner, he said.

Ranganath further said that the process of allocating police personnel on deputation to the HYDRAA police station is ongoing.

The HYDRAA police station will operate within the Commissionerate’s jurisdiction, spanning the entire area up to the Outer Ring Road and the tri-police Commissionerates. Previously, such complaints, particularly those regarding government land encroachment, were filed with local police stations.

Cases can be booked at HYDRAA police station

“The HYDRAA police station will now handle their cases, centralising the process. After receiving petitions, officials will undertake an investigation and carry out demolitions if needed. If a criminal prosecution is required, local police departments are contacted to file cases. Henceforth, cases can be booked at the HYDRAA police station,” Ranganath said.

HYDRAA or Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency is a multidisciplinary body with representatives from several departments, including Revenue, Survey, Irrigation, Town Planning, Fire Department, Police, and Pollution Control Board.

These personnel will also assist the police at the forthcoming HYDRAA police station by producing reports as part of the investigation, which will be incorporated into criminal complaints and prosecution, Ranganath stated.

More HYDRAA police stations on the plan

The HYDRAA commissioner also said that additional HYDRAA police stations may be established in the future based on complaints received. As part of its other mandates, HYDRAA police stations can deal with anyone who seeks to harm water bodies by dumping effluents.

HYDRAA reclaimed 200 acres so far

Since its inception, the agency has reclaimed 200 acres of land, including eight parks, 12 lakes and four government lands, as of December last year, he added.