HYDRAA reclaims 200 acres of encroached land in GHMC

Hyderabad: In the last five months, the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has reclaimed 200 acres of land that include lakes/ government lands/ parks, said HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath.

Ranganath on Wednesday reiterated that the agency would not demolish any buildings that have been given permission before July 2024. The residential houses which were built without permission and were readied by July 2024 and if they are inhabited, the agency will not demolish them (All these details will be checked on Google Earth / at the field level).

However, the agency would demolish unauthorised commercial establishments (N Convention) in the FTL even if constructed long back, the HYDRAA Commissioner said. “If permissions are given by the officials earlier, then they are canceled and those buildings would become illegal structures. Even if they are residences, if the construction is going on after July, they will be considered as illegal structures and demolished. For instance, the demolitions in Katwa pond, Mallampeta, Ameenpur fall into this category,” Ranganath said.

The HYDRAA would take serious cognizance of land grabbers who encroach on the land on the pretext of underprivileged sections (Eg. Demolition of Chintala pond, Gajularamaram, Sunnam Cheruvu in Madapur falls under this category). Any kind of building will be demolished if there is a court order. (Eg. Demolition of apartments under construction at Errakunta in Nizampet), he said.

Referring to the unauthorised constructions mushrooming even after the demolition drive at Sunnam Cheruvu lake, he said that the situation would be revived in the next few months. All the encroachments would be removed again, and a lake would be formed in the FTL area, he added.

Elaborating further, Ranganath said that after the emergence of the HYDRAA (after July 19, 2024) the demolition would take place if it is in FTL with or without permission. The officials who gave the permissions are also held responsible. Commercial buildings (like N convention, Farm houses/resorts etc) within the FTL area would be demolished by the HYDRAA, he said.

“The HYDRAA has already started the process of FTL marking of ponds in Hyderabad. The agency is conducting the program transparently and would complete this process soon. The agency gives priority to colony welfare societies, people and complaints. After HYDRAA demolitions, the agency prioritizes that area to be used for public purposes,” Ranganath said.

The HYDRAA Commissioner also said that the agency had taken up demolition of 12 lakes. A report was submitted to the government on the proposals for the restoration of those lakes. Work will begin as soon as the government permits. The HYDRAA has been set up by the government to protect public lands, including ponds and parks. It is the first such organization in the country, he added.

The HYDRAA was established by the government keeping in view the long term benefits and welfare of the people. The agency is moving forward subject to various judgments given by the courts on various occasions. “The citizens are contributing to the HYDRAA for a better future for future generations, for an environment-friendly and better public life. The agency works under the direction of the government. -To strengthen the HYDRAA, the government has been imposing various powers under various laws.

We are also getting stronger in terms of technology. People are complaining about trusting HYDRAA on a large scale. The agency has resolved more than 5,000 complaints. Many more complaints are pending. Actions will be taken after examining each complaint thoroughly. The HYDRAA works towards redressal of public grievances. The government is setting up a HYDRAA Police Station soon. The agency will take strict legal action against those involved in land grabbing,” Ranganath said.