Telangana set to promulgate ordinance to formalize HYDRAA's powers; depute more manpower

Hyderabad: Telangana government has decided to promulgate an ordinance to formalize the powers of HYDRAA (Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection Agency).

The government has also decided to strengthen the agency by increasing manpower to safeguard lakes, reservoirs, and nalas inside the Outer Ring Road (ORR).

A decision in this regard was taken in a Cabinet meeting held at Dr BR Ambedkar Telangana State Secretariat. This follows concerns expressed about the jurisdiction granted by the government to the authority. Multiple departments had requested changes to the Act to guarantee the continuous operation of HYDRAA.

Information and Public Relations Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said that the HYDRAA encompasses all powers exercised by municipalities, revenue, and irrigation departments. An ordinance in this regard would be issued shortly to formalize the HYDRAA’s powers, he added.

“After being granted legal authority, the HYDRAA will be the only entity with the combined authority to handle disaster relief and encroachment clearance in the Telangana Core Urban Region, which includes the GHMC region and portions of the districts of Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medchal-Malkajgiri, and Sangareddy that are inside the ORR,” the Minister said.

He added that the jurisdiction of HYDRAA encompasses 51 Gram Panchayats and 27 Urban Local authorities that were amalgamated into various municipal authorities before ORR.

Srinivas Reddy also said that about 169 officials and 946 outsourcing employees of various wings would be sent to HYDRAA on deputation to ensure its smooth functioning. “The essential statutory authority to remove illegal constructions from FTLs and buffer zones has been granted to the HYDRAA for better urban management and flood mitigation,” he said.

HYDRAA reclaims 111.72 acres in GHMC

In a report to the state government on September 11, the HYDRAA stated it had reclaimed around 111.72 acres of land from lakes, parks, and nalas by razing down as many as 262 unauthorized structures across 23 locations in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits.

As part of its ongoing demolition drive, the HYDRA has carried out the demolition of several alleged illegal structures, including that of Telugu superstar Akkineni Nagarjuna, in the city.