Hyderabad.11.09.2024: Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy announced on Wednesday, September 11, that the state government will continue demolishing illegal structures built on lakes in Hyderabad by the HYDRA agency. He emphasized that no matter how powerful a person may be, they will have to vacate any buildings constructed on lake beds.
Speaking at a ceremony at the Telangana Police Academy in Hyderabad, Revanth Reddy urged people who have built on full tank levels (FTL) or buffer zones to vacate the land voluntarily. The Telangana government had renamed the State Disaster Response Department to the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection (HYDRA) in July, giving it more authority, including protecting lakes.
In recent weeks, HYDRA has been demolishing illegal buildings on lake beds. The agency has reclaimed over 50 acres of land, including properties belonging to leaders from the Congress, BJP, and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) parties. Revanth Reddy has shown no signs of stopping these demolitions.
On Wednesday, he also highlighted the importance of Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar lakes in supplying water to Hyderabad, noting that they receive water from the Anantgiri Hills. He criticized those who have built farmhouses on the lake beds without proper drainage, which leads to sewage being dumped in Gandipet (Osman Sagar). “Would you drink water polluted with drainage?” he questioned.
Revanth Reddy explained that HYDRA’s mission is to remove all such illegal structures, regardless of the owners’ status. He also stated that the government would challenge any court orders preventing the demolitions.
The Chief Minister promised 2BHK houses to people living along the Musi River and once again urged those who have encroached on FTL or buffer zones to vacate voluntarily. He confirmed that HYDRA would continue to remove all encroachments on these zones.
Although HYDRA is actively demolishing illegal structures, it has reassured the public that it will not demolish occupied houses during its operations.
