Hyderabad.06.10.2024: Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma has approved an ordinance on October 5, 2024, to empower the (HYDRAA) Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency. This decision strengthens the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), giving it authority to protect public assets like roads, parks, water bodies, and more.
The new ordinance, known as the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024, added a section (374-B) to the GHMC Act, 1955. This allows officers or agencies, including HYDRAA, to act on behalf of the GHMC to safeguard public assets. Recently, HYDRAA had faced criticism for conducting demolitions without issuing notices. However, it was clarified that HYDRAA operates with notices issued by GHMC departments such as Irrigation and Revenue.
HYDRAA, led by Commissioner AV Ranganath, has been involved in several demolition drives to recover encroached land, including lakes and roads. Between June and September, HYDRAA carried out 27 demolition drives, clearing 262 illegal encroachments and reclaiming over 111 acres of public land. Notably, properties tied to politicians, businessmen, and celebrities were among those demolished.
HYDRAA was created by the Telangana state government to serve the Hyderabad Urban Region, covering GHMC and nearby districts. Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy leads HYDRAA’s governing body, which includes various ministers, police officials, and district representatives.
The new ordinance gives HYDRAA more legal power to continue its work in protecting the city’s assets from encroachment.
