Hyderabad, August 27, 2024: The Forum for Good Governance (FFGG) has called on the Telangana government, led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, to expand the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection (HYDRA) agency into a statewide body. The proposal suggests creating the ‘Telangana Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (TGDRAA)’ through legislative action to ensure legal status and broader impact.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, FFGG praised HYDRA’s efforts to protect government assets, including water bodies in and around Hyderabad, but highlighted the need for similar protection across the state. The Forum specifically mentioned Warangal, which has suffered due to encroachments in tanks and nalas, as a prime candidate for such an agency.
FFGG also raised concerns about the plight of lower and middle-class citizens who have purchased flats in Full Tank Level (FTL) or buffer zones, only to face demolition by HYDRA authorities. The organization argued that builders responsible for these illegal constructions should be held accountable, with their properties confiscated. FFGG suggested that displaced individuals should receive compensation or be provided with alternative land and financial support to construct new homes, such as through the Indiramma Houses scheme.
Moreover, the Forum emphasized the need for government agencies to verify ownership before approving plans or registering properties. It urged the Telangana Irrigation Department to provide detailed information on areas falling under FTL or buffer zones to registration authorities like HMDA and GHMC. FFGG also called for action against officials who neglect their duties or collude with builders, leading to severe hardship for unsuspecting buyers.
Since its inception, HYDRA has reclaimed 43.94 acres of encroached land within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits and demolished 18 properties, including those linked to prominent political figures and business leaders. The organization’s report, submitted by HYDRA Commissioner AV Ranganath, reveals that these enforcement actions have targeted illegal structures, including one associated with Pallam Anand, brother of Congress leader Pallam Raju, at the ORO Sports Complex.
