Musi row: HC restores Aditya Builders’ permits; HYDRAA clarifies after Kavitha protest

Hyderabad: Constructions along the Musi river took a political turn on Tuesday when Telangana Jagruthi president Kavitha Kalvakuntala staged a protest at Narsingi, alleging `illegal real estate' activity.

In response, the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) issued a detailed clarification explaining the sequence of events related to Aditya Builders and the High Court’s orders.

HYDRAA’s clarification

HYDRAA stated that the permissions granted to Aditya Builders date back to the previous BRS government.

However, after it was found that a retaining wall had been constructed extending into the Musi River limits, the permissions were cancelled by the then government.

HYDRAA version:

The cancellation of permissions was initiated during the BRS regime after the retaining wall encroachment came to light.

The subsequent Congress government continued the cancellation and did not restore the approvals.

Aditya Builders approached the Telangana High Court, challenging the cancellation.

The High Court, while hearing the matter, directed the irrigation and revenue departments to conduct a field inspection and submit a factual report regarding the retaining wall and river boundary.

HYDRAA said that, following the court’s directions:

The retaining wall constructed within the Musi River portion was removed by the builder.

Revenue and irrigation officials submitted a compliance report confirming the removal.

The builder furnished an undertaking before the court stating that construction would be carried out only after stepping back from the river boundary and strictly within permissible limits.

Based on the official inspection reports and the undertaking given by the developer, the High Court restored the building permissions.

HYDRAA emphasised that the restoration was not an executive decision but a judicial one, taken after compliance with court-mandated conditions.

Construction as per court-approved limits

HYDRAA clarified that all ongoing construction at the site is being carried out strictly as per the permissions restored by the High Court and within the approved setbacks.

Officials further stated that the entire sequence of cancellation, court intervention, inspection, removal of the retaining wall, and restoration of permissions occurred before HYDRAA came into existence.

“HYDRAA had no role in either granting or restoring these permissions. The process was monitored and decided upon by the High Court based on departmental reports,” the agency noted.

The agency appealed to political leaders and public representatives to take note of the judicial background of the case before making allegations.

Kavitha’s protest and allegations

Earlier in the day, K. Kavitha staged a dharna at Narsingi along with residents, alleging that a massive real estate venture was being developed abutting the Musi river.

She questioned whether HYDRAA was selectively targeting houses of the poor while ignoring alleged violations by large developers. Police detained her during the protest, leading to a brief scuffle between Telangana Jagruti activists and police personnel.

Kavitha also demanded that HYDRAA Commissioner Ranganath visit the site and take action against what she described as illegal riverfront construction.