What is HYDRAA and its functioning

Hyderabad: The Telangana State government has decided to establish the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) for TCUR (Telangana Core Urban Region) for disaster management, asset protection and other emergency functions.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy who is also holding the charge for Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) would be the chairman and member of the HYDRAA.

A formal order was released by chief secretary A Santhi Kumar in this regard on Friday and the Disaster Management of the GHMC has been officially renamed as HYDRAA.

The need for unified disaster management for a developing Hyderabad

Telangana is one of India’s fastest urbanising states with an urban population growth rate of 3.2 per cent per annum, higher than the national average. This rapid growth is evident in the outskirts of Hyderabad, driven by industries like IT, ITES, pharma, biotechnology, warehousing and logistics, aerospace and industries related to renewable energy.

The Outer Ring Road (ORR) has become the natural boundary of the city, encompassing various urban and rural local bodies. Though this area is characterised by common urban agglomerate features, the level of civic services is different, based on the competence of the local body concerned. This is more pronounced with respect to disaster management. Though there is an elementary support system of disaster management in GHMC, the same is invisible in other urbanised areas within ORR.

What is HYDRAA?

To address the challenges, the Telangana Government has decided to establish a single, unified agency for disaster management in the Telangana Core Urban Region (TCUR) – referred to the area comprising the entire GHMC and areas of Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medchal-Malkajgiri and Sangareddy districts up to ORR.

Accordingly, the HYDRAA will have a diverse set of mandate and functions. The HYDRAA shall comprise the Asset Protection Wing, Disaster Management Wing and Logistical Support Wing and an indicative list of roles and responsibilities.

The HYDRAA may coordinate and function along with other relevant authorities or shall entrust its powers and responsibilities to HYDRAA in accordance with the procedure established under related acts/rules when required.

Here’s a breakdown of the various parts of HYDRAA:

Asset Protection Wing

- To protect assets of local bodies and government such as parks, layout open spaces, playgrounds, lakes, nalas, land parcels, roads, carriageways, footpaths, etc from encroachments.

- Removal of lake encroachments in coordination with GHMC, other local bodies, HMDA, irrigation department, revenue department, etc.

- Coordination with local police for assets protection, necessary enforcement, etc.

- To inspect private premises for building and town planning regulation or removal of dilapidated structures endangering public safety, whenever such requests are received from government agencies like ULBs, UDAs and planning authorities. In the exercise of such powers, the HYDRAA authorities shall be deemed to be working under such ULBs, UDA and planning authorities, under the relevant acts, rules and regulations of ULBs, UDA and planning authorities.

- To take penal action on the violations in connection with advertisements which are deviations or not authorised vis-à-vis the permissions granted by the local bodies concerned and shared on a real-time database. In the exercise of such powers, the HYDRAA authorities shall be deemed to be working under such ULBs under the relevant acts, rules and regulations of ULBs.

Disaster Management Wing

- Taking up disaster response and relief work by the Disaster Response Force (DRF) of HYDRAA in case of any disaster/emergency.

- Coordination with the NDRF, SDMA, TG DR&FS department and other State and National agencies of Disaster Management.

- Coordination with technical agencies such as the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) etc. and alerting the concerned line departments by sending timely forewarns.

- Coordination with all concerned departments such as the police, GHMC and other local bodies concerned, HMWS&SB, HMDA, HMR, HGCL, MRDCL, TGSPDCL, Forest, UBD, Irrigation etc., to handle all types of emergencies.

- Maintain separate databases and collate information for future risk assessment and disaster risk predictions.

- Inspection of premises and issuing of fire NOCs as entrusted by the DG DR&FS under the provisions of the Telangana Fire Services Act, 1999.

Logistics Support Wing

- Staff recruitment, drafting and other service matters

- Office procedures and office administration

- e-Procurements and logistics for operations

- O&M of assets, equipment, vehicles, etc

- IT & GIS services

- Disaster Response Information System for TCUR area

- Training, coordination and community engagement in association with the Disaster Management Wing.

HYDRAA will also be responsible for the following functions:

Traffic coordination and management: The HYDRAA and its officers shall coordinate with regular traffic police for traffic management, especially to manage traffic in times of disasters with particular emphasis on traffic jams in water logging areas, road-damaged areas, disaster-prone areas, storm water etc. during heavy rains.

Training, Capacity Building and IEC: Coordination with other departments like district collectors, SDMA, Commissionerates of Police within TCUR, Addl. DG DR&FS, TGSPDCL, GHMC and other local bodies, HMWSSB, Irrigation, Forest, TRAC, NRSC, NDRF, Army, Airforce and CISF.

Organisation & Field Teams: The HYDRAA shall have a suitable organisation structure with necessary sub-divisions and field teams equipped with requisite material, equipment and vehicles.

Budget and other modalities: The budget shall comprise allocation from government and internal resources generated through contributions or fees from the beneficiary local authorities like GHMC, HMDA, TGIIC, TGSPDCL, HMWSSB, MRDCL, HGCL and other utilities, etc.