HYDRAA’s anti-encroachment drive: Twin cities home buyers panic as sword of buffer zone hangs

Hyderabad: Panic has gripped the home buyers in twin cities as HYDRAA intensified its anti-encroachment drive at lakes. Several home buyers are contacting developers to enquire whether the purchased property (flat/plot/villa) falls in the safe zone, or Full Tank Level (FTL), or buffer zone of a lake.

A few home buyers expressed their concerns on social media platforms and sought support from real estate experts to get their queries resolved.

Similar is the case with the people who had already purchased the houses/flats/plots in the twin cities and the Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits. At present, they are running from pillar to post to know about the status of their structure from the GHMC, revenue, irrigation, Hyderabad Metropolitan Development (HMDA), panchayats, and municipalities to ensure the houses/flats/plots aren’t in the FTL or buffer zone.

Speaking to NewsMeter, Ch Rajesh (name changed), a private employee and resident of Hyderabad said, “I purchased a 3-BHK flat in Vasavi Constructions, Musapeta two years ago. An approximate amount of Rs 1 crore has been paid and I'm yet to go for registration. The builder promised to hand over the flat to me in April 2025. The worry is if it comes under the FTL zone or not, if not how do I check since there is no proper mention of details? If it comes under the FTL zone, what do I do? What will happen to my investment?”

Harish Kumar, a private employee said, “I purchased a 2-BHK flat at Miyapur in 2017, and when I bought we were not aware of buffer zone rules. We have a water connection, electricity bill, and pay property tax to the GHMC. How does registration happen if a building is in the buffer zone illegally? Also, many buildings in Hyderabad are illegal. Why is the government hell-bent on lakes? Even those lakes are full of filth. Without cleaning lakes what is the use of these demolitions?”

"A lot of uncertainty exists among prospective homeowners over developments that are located close to bodies of water. While preserving water bodies is a commendable action, the state government ought to provide clarification on these initiatives. We are having sleepless nights as all our life savings are at stake. I came to know that my plot comes in the FTL and I was unaware of it while purchasing it a year ago. My entire family is worrying and the person who sold us the plot is not even involved directly. It was our dream to build a house in the plot. Now we feel like we lost everything,” another property buyer Abdul Razzak said.

K Jagadish Reddy, a real estate expert, said that the real estate market in both Hyderabad and Secunderabad is facing a significant impact from the HYDRAA. Home buyers are thinking twice about purchasing the properties with a fear that their properties might fall in the FTL or Buffer zone of a lake. This has left a great impact on the real estate sector as a majority of the public would prefer purchasing properties by availing loans from the banks.

“If the properties are demolished most of the public won't prefer their EMIs citing their property loss which also has cascading effect on the banking sector, apart from the real estate,” he said.

On the other hand, Lakeview homes near Kukatpally Lake, Osman Sagar (Gandipet Lake), Himayat Sagar, Saroornagar Lake, Shamirpet Lake, Pochampally Lake, Pedda Cheruvu, Nagole Lake, Durgam Cheruvu and Peerzadiguda Lake which were in high demand in the twin cities area up until June are now lacking a poor response.

Currently, fewer buyers are choosing to buy homes with lake views to avoid the risk of being a victim to the HYDRAA, he said. Around 30,000 properties were developed by various realtors in both the twin cities. "The state government preserving water bodies is a commendable move. It ought to provide more information on such properties to bring back the real estate sector from the crisis," Reddy said.

Occupied houses on lake FTL won't face demolition

"Houses, even if built on the Full Tank Level (FTL)/buffer zones, will not be demolished," said HYDRAA commissioner AV Ranganath. He made these remarks following a severe outcry by the city residents after the demolition drive by HYDRAA in the ORR limits.

Ranganath said that the habitations/dwellings occupied would not be demolished. However, the new constructions coming up in the FTL/buffer zones would be demolished.

Giving a clarification on demolition of structures in FTL/ Buffer of lakes, Ranganat said that the HYDRAA would not demolish the permanent structures that have already come up in the FTL/ Buffer. The government would take a policy decision ( like in case of Musi river permanent encroachments ) on the already existing permanent structures which have come up long ago in the FTL/ Buffer.

"The HYDRAA will ensure that all future / new encroachments should stop. Regarding dwellings that are existing since long and inhabited (in FTL/ Buffer) the HYDRAA willwait for the government policy decision," he added.