People now verify FTL, buffer zone before buying land, thanks to HYDRAA: Ranganath

Hyderabad: HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath said that the recent demolition drive by the agency on roadside encroachments in Nizampet paved the way for 10 residential colonies.

Despite court orders in this matter, they have not been implemented, he said, and he added that HYDRAA is lawfully acting against those who pollute ponds and canals. He also made it clear that they are instilling confidence in the government system and would not tolerate the encroachments of government lands and properties.

‘People are now checking FTL and buffer zones while buying houses’

“The government has given HYDRAA a lot of power, and we are trying to take advantage of it and protect the common people from the powerful. Due to HYDRAA’s activities, everyone has become aware of issues like pond FTL (Full Tank Level) and buffer (land adjacent to the pond after the FTL boundary). Now, people who are buying houses and land are asking about FTL and buffer zones,” Ranganath said.

Ranganath participated in a one-day symposium on ‘Citizen Centric Governance: The Role of Prajavani and Praja Palana in Telangana’ held at Dr MCR HRD Institute of Telangana, Jubilee Hills here on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, Ranganath said that the Prajavani programme will serve as a venue for resolving people’s problems, not only promoting quick justice but also instilling trust in the government.

“People come with many problems, and only when we consider them as our problems can we provide the right solution, rather than asking them to meet the other officials. That is why I had given high priority to public complaints wherever I worked, as this had made it easier to find out how the staff at the lower levels are doing their jobs,” the HYDRAA commissioner said.

Ranganath further said that almost all problems being faced by the public can be solved with proper consultation and suggestions.

“Only 20 per cent are complex. When I spoke to some people who turned to Naxalism, I noticed that there were many small reasons that people only take them seriously when problems are not resolved. If problems are resolved at the grassroots level, they do not reach the district and state level officials. There is a need to strengthen that mechanism,” he said.

‘Praja Palana and Prajavani programmes important for government’

The HYDRAA commissioner said that chief minister A Revanth Reddy has given top priority to solving the people's issues. In this process, he has given priority to Praja Palana and Prajavani. “Prajavani is very useful for getting the pulse of the people, such as how the governance system is and the response of lower-level officials to problems. That is why HYDRAA has taken Prajavani very seriously. We consider it an important event every Monday and try to solve problems by talking directly to the people,” he said.

Elaborating further, Ranganath said that the HYDRAA officials are showing the public about the situation at the field level through Google, NRSC and Survey of India maps to make them aware of the problem and taking steps to resolve it. Officials should explore ways to resolve problems within the law while respecting the laws and courts and not expose them to the public’s distress.

“HYDRAA is taking all precautions in the matter of lake conservation and moving forward. We are committed to the restoration, development and beautification of ponds,” he said, and added the applications received by the public during Prajavani were assigned to regional officers, but the progress of their resolution is also being reviewed for two days every week. Later, Ranganath also explained the way HYDRAA is conducting Prajavani, the issues being resolved and the benefits it brings to the people.