Occupied houses on lake FTL won’t face demolition, says HYDRAA chief

Hyderabad: “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.

In a statement issued on Sunday, 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.

Only under-construction buildings under scanner

Disclosing the details of the demolition drive, Ranganath said that the structures demolished in Madhapur’s Sunnam Cheruvu, Mallampet Cheruvu of Dundigal were under construction and were being built without permission in the FTL/buffer zones.

“We have demolished the structures in Sunnam Cheruvu previously also, but they are again coming up and hence we are carrying out a demolition drive," the HYDRAA Commissioner said.

In a similar way, Dundigal Kotwa pond, the officials have removed 11 duplex villa buildings that were being constructed illegally in the FTL area and reclaimed a two acre pond.

‘Encroachments will be targeted’

Reacting to the agitation by the locals near Sunnam Cheruvu, he clarified that those are commercial establishments, hotels, sheds and not houses/dwellings. The teams brought the furniture outside and shifted back into the house, he added.

"The people residing their are construction labor working in the near by under construction apartments. Also these labour are working for Gopal (leader who has encroached the lake land) who is also running the tanker/ bore business. We are removing temporary structures where the labour is being accommodated. We had done it previously in Chintal Cheruvu , Appaa Cheruvu," the HYDRAA Commissioner said.

Ranganath also said that all the structures demolished in Sunnam Cheruvu were erected by the local grabbers. Rent is being collected from them by the local leaders. "Do you think that a normal person from Bihar/ Orissa can come and construct a house in FTL/ Buffer with out the local involvement. The grabbers show the facade of poor and encroach the land," he added.

Elaborating further, Ranganath said that in Ameenpur, structures demolished are mainly compound walls/rooms/sheds encroached/grabbed by former YSRCP MLA Katasani Ram Bhupal Reddy. He also clarified that no house/residence occupied by any person will be demolished.

In Mallampeta Cheruvu, as many as seven villas were demolished which were still under construction (not occupied by any families) and are in FTL without any building construction permissions. The builder has been identified as Vijay Lakshmi on whom many criminal cases were booked and also connected to the local political leaders.

The HYDRAA commissioner also said that criminal cases and complaints were booked in the local police stations on the builder Vijay Lakshmi and former MLA Katasani Ram Bhupal Reddy and others.

Giving a clarification on demolition of structures in FTL/ Buffer of lakes, Ranganath 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 will wait for the government policy decision, he added.

Check HMDA website for information on lakes

“Our intention is to assure all the people of Hyderabad that no house which is occupied will be demolished. We request the public not to purchase any house/flat/land which falls in the FTL/buffer zone of any lake. If any such purchasers of properties have any doubt regarding FTL/buffer zones, they can check website on HMDA lakes or can approach us for clearing such doubts,” Ranganath said.

How to identify encroachments?

Explaining the process of lake encroachments, he said that the encroachers would fill the lake with construction waste material/debris. The next step would be, they level it and immediately thereafter some temporary structures/sheds in which some shops or parking areas will come up on this encroached land. Usually, some local leader would be behind it.

“In Sunnam Cheruvu and Madhapur where we had carried demolitions, a person identified as Gopal is involved. He was running the businesses and collecting rents. We are booking a criminal case against him at the local police station. After a few months/years, permanent structures/buildings will come up (without permission or sometimes with permission as well). Gradually the complete lake gets encroached upon and disappears from the map of Hyderabad,” the HYDRAA commissioner said.