Opinion: How HYDRAA’s crusade for reclaiming Hyderabad’s assets exposed statewide crisis

Hyderabad: Earlier this week, Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) chief AV Ranganath presented a compelling account of the agency’s achievements since its inception on July 19, 2024.

Rampant encroachment

In just over a year, HYDRAA has emerged as a formidable force against urban decay and illegal land grabs in Telangana’s capital.

By reclaiming 923.14 acres of government land, lakes, parks, nalas and roads—valued at an estimated Rs 50,000 crore in Hyderabad—HYDRAA has not only restored public assets but also highlighted the rampant encroachment that plagued the city over the past few years.

Broader crisis of land mafia operations

This milestone not only restores public assets but also exposes the rampant encroachments that flourished under the previous regimes, revealing a broader crisis of land mafia operations across Telangana that has victimised citizens, undermined flood resilience and siphoned off billions in public wealth.

A year of decisive action

Going by HYDRAA’s statistics, its operations have been nothing short of transformative. Conducting 96 targeted drives, the agency has demolished 581 illegal encroachments, freeing up vast tracts of misused land.

The breakdown reveals the scale of the problem: 424 acres of government land, 233 acres of lakes, 218 acres of roads, 15 acres of nalas and 25 acres of parks have been reclaimed.

Rs 50,000 crore in recovered assets

These efforts come at an average value of around Rs 50 crore per acre, translating to a staggering Rs 50,000 crore in recovered assets that were effectively ‘eaten’ by land mafias, particularly during the previous BRS regime, when Hyderabad has been on overtly gunning for development.

Prioritising restoration

Beyond mere reclamation, HYDRAA has prioritised restoration and prevention.

It has rejuvenated six lakes at a cost of Rs 58.40 crore, expanding their total area from 105 acres to 180 acres and retrieving 75 acres from encroachers. One of the biggest success stories is the Bathukamma Kunta in Amberpet, which was once a dumping yard choked by illegal occupations.

Within just six months of the restoration, the lake is all set for inauguration by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on September 26, symbolising a return to community use.

Plans are underway for 14 more lakes, alongside innovative measures like drone-based Full Tank Level (FTL) finalisation, geo-fencing of water bodies and government assets, and real-time dashboards for inter-departmental coordination.

City defence for emergencies

HYDRAA’s disaster response arm further bolsters its impact.

With 51 Disaster Response Force (DRF) teams comprising 825 personnel—set to expand to 72 this year—the agency has addressed over 5,000 complaints, redressing 75 per cent of them with a focus on flood-prone settlements and waterlogging issues.

The installation of 1,000 CCTV cameras across 180 lakes in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area, at Rs 8.60 crore, promises enhanced surveillance to deter future violations.

These initiatives have directly improved flood infrastructure, reducing vulnerability in a city prone to monsoon deluges. By clearing nalas and roads, HYDRAA has enhanced drainage systems, preventing the kind of waterlogging that has historically disrupted life in Hyderabad.

Unmasking the loot: Encroachments galore

The scale of HYDRAA’s recoveries points to a dark chapter under the previous government, where land mafias operated with impunity, sparing nothing—not even footpaths, nalas or parks.

Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy has alleged that over 2,000 acres of government land, worth Rs 50,000 crore, were encroached during the BRS tenure, spanning Hyderabad, Rangareddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts.

“Preliminary investigation by the revenue department had found that over 2,000 acres of prime government land had been encroached upon during the BRS regime. The value of these land parcels is estimated at around Rs 50,000 crore,” Reddy stated, emphasising the scale of grabs involving revenue, endowments, Waqf, and forest lands.

He further accused the BRS of facilitating illegal transfers through Government Order 59 (GO 59), noting, “These properties were illegally transferred to ‘benamis’ under the guise of Government Order 59 (GO 59), which was issued by the BRS government to regularise government land.”

Prominent BRS figures, including former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) and his son, former IT Minister KT Rama Rao (KTR), have been accused of enabling this plunder through policies like the Dharani portal, which allegedly handed sensitive land data to foreign companies, facilitating grabs.

Bathukamma Kunta reclamation efforts reveal information

A glaring example is Bathukamma Kunta, where BRS leader Sudhaker Reddy Aedla claimed private ownership over the lake land. Courts repeatedly dismissed his petitions, upholding HYDRAA’s reclamation efforts and confirming the site’s status as public property.

In March 2025, Amberpet police even filed a case against Reddy and his associates for attempting to encroach on the lake. Such incidents are not isolated; over 20 complaints have been lodged against BRS leaders and corporators for land grabbing, including attacks on HYDRAA officials during demolition drives.

The real victims here are the common public and unwitting buyers, duped into purchasing plots on fraudulently sold encroached lands. This is no political witch hunt but a necessary reckoning to restore equity and protect innocent citizens from the fallout of systemic corruption.

Encroachment: A statewide scourge beyond Hyderabad

While HYDRAA’s mandate covers the 2,055 square km of the Telangana Core Urban Region (TCUR), encroachment is a pervasive issue across Telangana’s cities and rural areas.

In the Rangareddy district, streams like Pandena Vagu have seen illegal structures along their banks, exacerbating environmental risks.

Telangana farmers affected

In Sircilla, authorities have identified 1,400 acres of grabbed land, with 300 acres already reclaimed from private encroachers. Footpath encroachments plague urban centres, prompting weekly drives by GHMC to clear commercial violations in Hyderabad.

Bhoodan lands—donated for landless farmers—have been systematically encroached, leading to High Court interventions in districts like Ranga Reddy. Old residential layouts from the 1980s-90s are being erased and occupied illegally, as reported to HYDRAA.

In Jubilee Hills, encroachments on nalas and parks worth Rs 200 crore were cleared, highlighting how even affluent areas are affected.

Forests bear the brunt statewide, with estimates ranging from 5.3 lakh to 7.65 lakh acres encroached—11.48% of total forest area—concentrated in districts like Asifabad, Adilabad and Bhadradri Kothagudem.

Waqf properties add another layer, with 57,423 acres (75% of total Waqf land) under illegal occupation, valued at Rs 4 lakh crore. These figures illustrate how encroachment fuels deforestation, urban flooding and loss of cultural heritage, disproportionately impacting vulnerable communities.

The untapped potential: Scaling up statewide

If HYDRAA’s reclamation of 923 acres in Hyderabad yields Rs 50,000 crore, the statewide potential is mind-boggling.

Extrapolating from forest encroachments alone (5-7 lakh acres), the value could run into lakhs of crores, assuming similar per-acre rates in urban and peri-urban areas. Adding Waqf and other government lands pushes this into the realm of trillions, representing lost revenue for public welfare, infrastructure and disaster mitigation.

Expanding HYDRAA-like models to districts like Rangareddy or Sircilla could unlock this wealth, fostering sustainable development and economic equity.

By enhancing flood resilience through lake restoration and nala clearances, it addresses climate vulnerabilities head-on. This approach not only safeguards lives and property but also signals a shift toward transparent, accountable urban planning. As Telangana grapples with rapid urbanisation, tackling encroachment statewide is imperative to prevent future disasters and ensure equitable growth.

Krishna Murthy is an independent journalist, reporting from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning outlets like Republic TV, NDTV, and The New Indian Express, he delivers coverage on regional politics, security, and cyber affairs.

The views and opinions expressed in the article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of NewsMeter.