‘We are not land grabbers’: Serilingampally society claims HYDRAA demolished buildings on legally bought land

Hyderabad: Members of the SIET Employees Cooperative Housing Society in survey numbers 12, 12A and 13 of Guttala Begumpet, Serilingampally, are reeling from shock after several buildings in their community were demolished ‘without prior notice.’

The demolition at Guttala Begumpet was carried out by the Hyderabad Urban Development Regulatory Authority (HYDRAA) on September 8 and has sparked outrage among society members, many of whom are retired employees who invested their life savings into their properties.

Structure of SIET Employees Cooperative Housing Society

The State Institute of Engineering and Technology (SIET) Employees Cooperative Housing Society was not developed by a single builder but was member-driven, with each member constructing their home at their own expense after securing the required legal permissions.

The villas, depending on their size and customisation, cost between Rs 50 lakhs and Rs 2 crores. The land was originally purchased at a rate of Rs 1.5 lakh per acre, a significant investment at the time.

The SIET society said, the group, largely composed of elderly retired employees, is particularly vulnerable to such issues.

‘HUDA, GHMC gave approvals’

In a press conference on Thursday, the society members detailed their issues with the demolition.

The society, established in 1990, legally acquired 24 acres of land from Jayaprada Devi, wife of Avula Sambhashiva Rao, the first Lokayukta of Andhra Pradesh.

The land, located in survey numbers 12, 12A and 13 of Guttala Begumpet, Serilingampally Mandal, was approved for residential use. Plots were allotted to members in 1992 after obtaining approvals from the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA). In subsequent years, municipal numbers, electricity, and water connections were provided by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).

BSSN Raju, president of the SIET Employees Cooperative Housing Society, stated: “We are not land grabbers. We purchased the land from a genuine seller, and our society has followed all legal requirements since its formation.”

‘Our lands were never submerged due to floods’

In 2019, concerns were raised about the proximity of the society’s land to Sunnam Cheruvu, a local water body.

Members approached the government and the Irrigation Department, requesting a re-survey to determine if their plots were within the Full Tank Level (FTL) or buffer zones. Though the Vigilance Department approved the re-survey, it has not yet been conducted.

The recent demolition, including the home of Nagendra Kumar, has heightened tensions. “Our plots have never been submerged, not even during the major floods of 2020,” said Raju, citing Google Maps coordinates to support the society’s claim. He argued that the demolition was unjust, as the land is not within the FTL or buffer zones.

Demolition without notice by HYDRAA

The society members said that on September 8, HYDRAA, without any prior notice, demolished two buildings and several sheds in the society.

Nagendra Kumar, one of the affected residents, recounted: “We had no warning. One moment, we were safe in our homes, and the next, our properties were being torn down.”

Raju added that the society was following the HUDA master plan, which included an 80-foot road through their land. “Our land doesn’t violate any zoning laws and the road is part of the approved layout,” he said.

Background of HYDRAA

HYDRAA, tasked with overseeing urban development in Hyderabad, is responsible for ensuring that zoning regulations and master plans are adhered to.

Their role includes protecting natural resources like water bodies, which has led to their involvement in this case. However, the society members argue that their land does not pose any environmental risk.

Call for government intervention

Residents are urging the Telangana State government to intervene.

“We are old and retired; we invested everything in this land. We humbly request authorities to do justice and resolve this issue,” Raju appealed, directing his plea to CM Revanth Reddy, and AV Ranganath, chairman of the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA).

Despite obtaining all necessary approvals—including land registry, GHMC authorisation and municipal services—residents are now uncertain about the future of their properties.

Residents of the SIET Employees Cooperative Housing Society are calling for immediate intervention from the Telangana State government to address the zoning dispute and prevent further demolitions. They hope that their legal ownership and compliance with regulations will safeguard their homes from future actions by HYDRAA.