Hyderabad: 30 years on, RK Puram residents win battle to save park; HYDRAA clears encroachments

Hyderabad: Residents of RK Puram Officers’ Colony in Malkajgiri successfully protected a 3,000-square-yard park from encroachment after fighting a prolonged legal and administrative battle spanning three decades.

Recognising their efforts, HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath has felicitated the residents, calling them an inspiration for communities across the city.

“Even after retirement, you continued your fight to safeguard this public space. You are truly commendable and an inspiration to many,” the Commissioner said, honouring the residents with shawls. The gesture surprised the colony representatives, who had initially approached HYDRAA to felicitate the officials for their support.

The Commissioner clarified that the honour was meant to encourage citizens everywhere to actively protect public spaces like parks. He also appreciated HYDRAA Inspector Aditya for his role in removing encroachments and restoring the park.

A 3,000 sq yd park reclaimed

The RK Puram Officers’ Colony layout was established in 1968 in Ramakrishnapuram village (now under Malkajgiri municipality) with 125 plots, including 3,000 square yards earmarked for a park.

In 1997, the municipality handed over the parkland to HUDA for development, but no work was taken up. Taking advantage of this, encroachers allegedly subdivided the parkland into four plots and attempted construction.

Residents opposed the move, leading to disputes and police cases. They approached the district court, which in 2003 directed GHMC to develop the land as a park. Encroachers challenged the order in the High Court, but their appeal was dismissed in 2007, upholding the lower court’s ruling.

Permissions despite Court orders

Despite clear court rulings, the encroachers reportedly obtained Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS) approvals from HMDA in 2008 for the subdivided plots. They later secured building permissions from GHMC in 2011 and attempted construction again.

Residents once again intervened, presenting court orders to officials. In 2019, GHMC sanctioned ₹19 lakh for park development and began work, but encroachers halted it by approaching the High Court and securing a stay.

Local residents impleaded in the case, and after prolonged proceedings, the High Court vacated the stay on November 18, 2025.

HYDRAA steps in, removes encroachments

Following renewed complaints to HYDRA during its Prajavani programme on February 10, 2025, residents were advised to resolve pending legal hurdles. After the stay was lifted, they approached HYDRAA again on March 23.

Acting swiftly, HYDRAA officials cleared the encroachments on March 25, fenced the park area, and installed boards marking it as public parkland. The agency also wrote to GHMC to cancel building permissions and to HMDA to revoke LRS approvals. GHMC has since acted on the request and communicated with HMDA.

“Like a Surgical Strike”: Residents

Ramesh Sistla, a retired General Manager and resident, described HYDRAA’s action as swift and decisive.

“For decades, despite favourable court orders, encroachers did not back down. We struggled to protect what was clearly a park. HYDRAA stepped in and, like a surgical strike, removed encroachments within hours, fenced the land, and secured it for the community,” he said.

He added that the park is now a vital green space providing “oxygen” to residents and thanked HYDRAA, GHMC officials, and the government for their support.

A model for civic action

The episode stands as a strong example of how sustained citizen action, backed by legal recourse and administrative intervention, can reclaim and protect public spaces from encroachment. HYDRAA officials expressed hope that similar community-led efforts would emerge across the city to safeguard parks and other common lands.