Hyderabad: Illegal Building Demolished by HYDRA
The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Environmental Monitoring & Protection Agency (HYDRA) demolished an illegal multi-storey building in Ayyappa Society, located in Khanamet village under the Serilingampally zone. The action took place on Sunday under tight security.
The building, which had five storeys along with a cellar and ground floor, was constructed on 684 square yards of land along a 100-foot road in Madhapur. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) had already issued notices to the building’s owners last year, stating that the construction was unauthorized.
To ensure smooth execution, the police cordoned off the area and cut off electricity supply near the site. Hydraulic cranes were used to bring down the structure. Despite its location near a main road, the demolition was carried out without disrupting traffic.
Legal Actions Taken Prior to Demolition
The GHMC had issued a show cause notice to the builder on February 14, 2024, followed by a formal order on February 26, 2024. However, the builder ignored the notices and continued construction. The High Court later intervened on April 19, 2024, after receiving a writ petition demanding enforcement of the order.
Although the GHMC partially demolished the building on June 13, 2024, the builder resumed construction soon after. This led to HYDRA stepping in to address the issue.
Inspection and Final Decision
On Saturday, HYDRA Commissioner AV Ranganath and other officials inspected the site. They reviewed complaints from locals about the illegal construction and examined the High Court orders and GHMC notices. Commissioner Ranganath criticized the GHMC officials for allowing the construction to continue despite clear court rulings.
HYDRA Launches Public Grievance Programme
In addition to their demolition efforts, HYDRA announced a new public grievance redressal programme starting January 6. The programme will be held every Monday to address issues like encroachments on water bodies, lakes, and public spaces.
The programme, similar to the GHMC’s Prajavani initiative, will allow citizens to meet HYDRA officials directly and voice their concerns. Complaints are expected to be resolved within ten days. Meetings will take place at Buddha Bhavan, Ranigunj, from 11 am to 2 pm and 3 pm to 5:30 pm, excluding government holidays.
For assistance, the public can contact HYDRA through phone numbers 040-29565758 or 29560596.
