HYDRAA recovers ₹700-Crore encroached land in Kondapur, fences off 4 acres of park space
HYDRAA’s intervention came after the Sri Venkateswara HAL Colony Residents Welfare Association lodged a complaint through the Prajavani grievance platform
By - Sistla Dakshina Murthy
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) on Friday safeguarded nearly 4 acres of government land in Kondapur, valued at around Rs 700 crore.
The land, earmarked for parks and public amenities, had been illegally converted into residential plots over the years.
High Court orders lead to immediate action
Residents had also approached the High Court, which directed HYDRAA to protect all parks and public-purpose lands in the colony. Following the court’s instructions, HYDRAA carried out a detailed field investigation and confirmed the encroachments.
Parks converted into plots through bye-number manipulation
HYDRAA’s intervention came after the Sri Venkateswara HAL Colony Residents Welfare Association lodged a complaint through the Prajavani grievance platform.
The agency’s field inspection confirmed that lands reserved for community parks and public utilities were being misused. Park spaces were assigned bye-numbers, split into multiple plots, and sold to private parties.
In one instance, a 1.20-acre park was illegally divided into 11 residential plots. Two other park areas were similarly converted and sold. Developers later deployed bouncers to prevent residents from accessing the area, residents alleged.
Illegal layout activity traced to 1980s GPAs
The layout in question, Sri Venkateswara HAL Colony, spread over 57.20 acres with 627 plots was formed in the 1980s. HYDRAA officials found that Abbineni Anasuya and others had executed a GPA during that period and created an unauthorised layout.
The buyers of these disputed plots subsequently regularised their holdings under LRS and BRS schemes.
Despite clear zoning for two parks of 1.20 acres each, another park spread over 2 acres, and 1,000 sq. yards for public utilities. These areas were gradually encroached upon and absorbed into private holdings.
HYDRAA erected fencing around the park areas, installed official boards marking them as designated open spaces, and secured the land from further encroachment. This move effectively restores the lands to their intended public use.
Residents welcome HYDRAA’s swift response
Local residents expressed relief at HYDRAA’s firm action, stating that their decades-long struggle to reclaim park spaces had finally seen progress. They thanked the agency for responding promptly to their complaint and for restoring public access to land that had long been under threat.
