HYDRAA police station to open on May 8: special unit to tackle land grabs and encroachments

Hyderabad: In a significant move to intensify the crackdown on illegal land encroachments, the Telangana government is establishing a dedicated HYDRAA Police Station, adjacent to Buddha Bhavan here.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy will officially inaugurate the station on Thursday, marking a new chapter in urban land protection efforts. Much like the Disaster and Fire Departments, HYDRAA now gains its own exclusive police station to further strengthen its operations.

ACP P Thirumal has been appointed as the Station House Officer (SHO), with a team comprising six inspectors, 12 sub-inspectors, and 30 constables. The G+2 structure spans 10,500 square feet and is fully equipped to handle HYDRAA’s growing enforcement needs.

Dedicated enforcement and investigation hub

The new police station will take up criminal cases against individuals or groups involved in encroaching government lands, parks, roads, lakes, and stormwater drains. It holds full authority to register FIRs, conduct investigations, and make arrests.

Cases will also target those illegally dumping soil into lakes or canals — not just the drivers, but also contractors and the construction firms involved. Strict legal action will be taken against those releasing sewage into water bodies.

Cracking down on masterminds

HYDRAA will also investigate the real forces behind land encroachments. It aims to expose powerful individuals who misuse the poor to set up temporary huts and later grab land using fake documents. Those manipulating layouts or encroaching upon public utilities like roads and parks will face criminal charges under WALTA and Fire Safety laws.

Standing up for citizens

The station will safeguard the rights of ordinary citizens whose plots or shared spaces in approved layouts have been taken over. It will respond to public grievances, conduct site inspections, and ensure justice is served.

HYDRAA has already recovered hundreds of acres of public land and protected numerous lakes, parks, and canals. More than 50 ongoing cases from various police stations will now be consolidated under this new unit, making it a central hub for anti-encroachment operations.