Telangana HC gives relief to HYDRAA on Janwada farmhouse

Hyderabad: In relief to the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection (HYDRAA) on demolitions, the Telangana High Court on Wednesday rejected the argument of the city-based realtor Pradeep Reddy with regard to his petitioner to stay the demolition on a farmhouse based in Janwada.

After hearing the arguments from both the parties, the HIgh Court directed HYDRAA to proceed as per G.O. 99 on the demolition of Janwada farmhouse. It also directed the HYDRAA to consider documents related to Janwada farmhouse like sale deed, permission obtained from competent authority ( Panchayat, Municipality, GHMC etc.), payment of receipts of electricity etc.

While hearing the petition, the High Court asked the government about HYDRAA and its policies. In return, the government informed the court that HYDRAA is working in coordination with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). Informing the policies of the HYDRAA, the additional advocate general told the court that the HYDRAA will protect the lakes and ponds from encroachment in the Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits.

Additional Advocate General (Telangana) Md. Imran Khan, informed the Court that the petitioner has approached this Court at a pre-mature stage and prayed the Court not to pass any interim order in this issue as the newspapers will report elaborately on this issue and HYDRAA is doing a good work as it has been entrusted the work of Asset Protection in the Urban Local Bodies State, GHMC limits by demolishing all such structures, which have been raised illegally within the FTL of the lakes, thereby destroying our lakes.

If the Court passes any interim order, this good work, being done by HYDRAA will come to a stand still, rather the Addl.AG prayed the Court to dispose of the Writ Petition by passing a final order. HYDRAA has got the power to remove all illegal structures in coordination with the GHMC.

Further, Imran Khan informed the Court that the said Farm house property falls within the GO.111, which prohibits constructions. The petitioner got permission to raise structures on the said land from the Sarpanch, Janwada on September 12, 2014, without there being any resolution of the Gram Panchayat.

Senior Counsel Hari Haran appeared for the petitioner and informed the Judge that on August 14, 2024, the Engineering CAD and HYDRAA officials approached the petitioner and threatened him that the Farmhouse property will be demolished as the said property falls within the FTL.

The said farm house property in Janwada is not situated within the FTL of the Osman Sagar lake and the said property is beyond the prescribed limit of 30 meters from the FTL boundary of the Osman Sagar lake.

"The present State Government is trying to demolish the Farmhouse with an evil intention though, the said farm house and other land purchased by the petitioner does not fall under the FTL of the Osman Sagar Lake," Hari Haran said.

What is GO 99?

The Telangana Government has decided to establish a single, unified agency for disaster management in the Telangana Core Urban Region (TCUR). The TCUR is the term referring to an area comprising the entire GHMC and such areas as Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medchal Malkajgiri and Sangareddy Districts up to ORR. Accordingly, the HYDRAA is constituted with the following mandate and functions.

HYDRAA shall be a dedicated agency for planning, organizing, coordinating and implementing the measures for preparedness and prevention of urban disasters, for coordination with other state and national agencies for prompt response and rescue operations in any disaster situation or disaster that may arise in this region. The Commissioner HYDRAA shall exercise responsibilities relating to Disaster Management, Assets Protection, Enforcement and other responsibilities as entrusted by the Government from time to time.

Half of Janwada lands belong to KTR: Congress MLC Mahesh Kumar Goud

Mahesh Kumar Goud told the reporters, "There is no doubt that BRS working president KTR owns half of the Janwada lands." After destroying the nalas, he constructed the farmhouse. KTR should approve the destruction, which is something we are all in favor of, if he is truly dedicated. The farmhouse occupies one lakh square feet in total. Why would somebody accept a lease on land? But KTR opened the curtains on a new drama by leasing his friend's farmhouse. According to a report from the police, it was KTR's farmhouse. When Revanth Reddy went to the NGT to report that the construction was unlawful, he was taken into custody. Shailima, the spouse of KTR, is the owner of all the land at Janwada farmhouse."