Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has strongly defended the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection Agency (HYDRAA) following observations made by the Telangana High Court regarding its Commissioner A.V. Ranganath. Speaking to the media, the Chief Minister declared that the state government stands firmly behind the agency and described it as the greatest reform introduced by his administration. He emphasized that HYDRAA’s work will continue in the future and asserted that the government has the authority to decide where officers should be posted.
The Chief Minister alleged that certain groups are funding false campaigns against the government and HYDRAA on social media platforms. He stated that these coordinated efforts are aimed at undermining the reform initiatives undertaken by his government. Revanth Reddy clarified that he has not yet examined the High Court’s order in detail but assured that the government will thoroughly review the directions from its side. He maintained that while the government will certainly respect the courts, it is prepared to take necessary legal steps to defend its position.
The Chief Minister announced that the government will challenge the order concerning A.V. Ranganath before a higher court. He reiterated that the authority to decide on officer postings and transfers rests with the state government and that this constitutional right will be upheld. The strong statement comes amid ongoing debates about HYDRAA’s functioning and its role in addressing illegal constructions and encroachments in Hyderabad and surrounding areas.
HYDRAA has been at the center of controversy since its establishment, with the agency taking strict action against unauthorized structures in lake beds and buffer zones. The Chief Minister’s remarks make it clear that the government has no intention of diluting the agency’s powers or scaling back its operations. He stated that the government will review the High Court’s directions while maintaining that HYDRAA represents a crucial reform for urban governance in Telangana.
