What powers does HYDRAA have to demolish constructions: Telangana HC

Hyderabad: “What powers did HYDRAA have to demolish constructions,” said Telangana High Court Single Bench comprising Justice Kunuru Lakshman on Wednesday, after hearing a petition filed by city-based realtor B Pradeep Reddy.

In his petition, Pradeep Reddy sought the High Court not to allow demolish construction of a building admeasuring 3,895.12 square feet of land admeasuring 1210 square yards in Survey no 311/ Part New Survey No 311/7 situated at Janwada Village, Shankarpally Mandal, Ranga Reddy District.

Justice Lakshman directed the Additional AG to explain the scope of Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection (HYDRAA) on demolishing the constructions after a long gap of 15 to 20 years, claiming that it was an illegal construction. On the other hand, the High Court questioned the demolition of Hydra. It said that the landowners registered their lands in the office of the Sub-Registrar. An additional AG informed the Court that Hydra is an independent government body, and it has power to demolish the illegal constructions.

Amid the demolition spree, the HYDRAA is on, Pradeep Reddy has knocked the High Court with a petition, pleading the court for direction to prevent any kind of action by HYDRAA against a property (farmhouse, he owns in GO111). He claims ownership of the property.

In his petition, Pradeep Reddy also claimed that his farmhouse was being unjustly associated with a politician and voiced his fear that the government may destroy it for nefarious purposes. He included the commissioner of HYDRAA as a respondent in his petition.

It is to recall that the controversy began when Telangana chief minister and then MP, A Revanth Reddy, filed a petition with the National Green Tribunal (NGT), alleging that the farmhouse was illegally located in the GO 111 area, which is part of the protected Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar reservoirs. Revanth Reddy was also booked for flying a drone to a private property, which he claimed was owned by BRS MLA KT Rama Rao (KTR).

A joint committee was established by the NGT with the mandate to examine the location and provide a report. Pradeep Reddy responded by claiming that his constructions were lawful in a High Court appeal. In a separate case, KTR asked the High Court to set aside the NGT's orders and denied possession of the property. The High Court granted an interim stay on the NGT’s orders.

KTR denies ownership of farmhouse

Reacting to the allegations, BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) denied ownership of the farmhouse during a press conference at Telangana Bhavan. “ I am making it very clear that I don’t own a farmhouse. I have taken it on lease from my friend. If the property violates the rules and comes under the Full Tank Level (FTL) or buffer zone. I welcome HYDRAA to conduct a survey and take appropriate action,” KTR said.

The BRS working president also accused the HYDRAA of lacking courage to take action against the farm houses owned by prominent Congress leaders, which are allegedly constructed in the FTL or buffer zones. “What about the farm houses of Revanth Reddy, his Cabinet colleague Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and other Congress leaders Gutta Sukender Reddy, Patnam Mahender Reddy, G Vivek, KVP Ramachandra Rao, Madhu Yashki, all allegedly constructed in the FTL and buffer zone? HYDRAA should start demolition with them. I don’t have any objections if they want to take action,” KTR said and also ridiculed HYDRAA’s enforcement efforts and called it ‘HYDRAA or Amoeba’.