Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection Agency (HYDRA) is actively working to protect water bodies and drainage systems in and around Hyderabad. On Friday, HYDRA demolished unauthorized structures near a drainage canal (nala) in Manemma Galli, Ramnagar, under the Adikmet division. The agency has also started taking action against officials who issued permits for constructions within the full tank levels (FTL) and buffer zones of lakes.
During a surprise visit on Wednesday, HYDRA Commissioner AV Ranganath noticed that the road in the Musheerabad constituency had become narrow due to encroachments on the nala. Locals had brought this issue to his attention, and as a result, the authorities acted quickly to address the problem.
Residents, especially women, expressed their concerns about frequent flooding in their homes whenever it rains. This has been causing significant difficulties for them. In response, Ranganath instructed the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Town Planning, and Revenue officials to look into who was responsible for allowing construction on the road and to review the relevant land documents.
Ranganath explained that after receiving a complaint about the encroachment of a public road at Manemma Galli, a joint inspection was conducted by HYDRA, the Deputy City Planner of Musheerabad Circle, GHMC, and Revenue officials. This inspection took place in survey number 20 and 21, Ward 155, Block A of Zamistanpur village.
The inspection found that the boundaries matched the Revenue records. However, they discovered that some unauthorized structures, including temporary buildings of a toddy compound and a ground + two-story building, had been constructed without permission from the competent authority. As a result, HYDRA took action to demolish these unauthorized structures in survey numbers 20 and 21.
The encroachments had caused blockages in the drainage system, leading to a lack of proper connectivity to the main drainage line. Consequently, residents in the area have been experiencing frequent drainage overflows, even though there was approval for nala construction. HYDRA is also taking action against officials who granted permits for construction within the FTL and buffer zones of lakes. Ranganath has filed a complaint with Cyberabad Police Commissioner Avinash Mohanty regarding this issue.
The roles of the Revenue Department, GHMC, and Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) are currently being investigated as part of the ongoing HYDRA inquiry. This investigation was initiated in response to unauthorized constructions in the areas of Nizampet and Chandanagar.
