Hyderabad, April 1 – The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) conducted a major operation on Wednesday to remove encroachments on government land. Five under-construction buildings were demolished by HYDRAA teams in Shastripuram, Rajendranagar mandal, under tight security.
HYDRAA personnel demolished structures built illegally on the land allocated for a playground. Five G+3 under construction structures were pulled down to protect land worth Rs. 100 crore. Two smaller structures were also razed to the ground.
Two buildings were not demolished because some families were living there.
The encroachments occurred on a layout approved by the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA). The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) had previously issued notices to the encroachers.
HYDRAA carried out the demolition after local residents filed complaints. The encroachers were allegedly selling plots on the land through notarized documents.
The approved layout, spanning 188 acres, has 1,800 plots. The authorities had designated 6,500 square yards for a playground, but some individuals had encroached on the land and illegally sold the plots.
Officials from HYDRAA, along with those from GHMC and the revenue department, recently inspected the area and, after investigation, confirmed that the land was indeed encroached.
HYDRAA was formed in 2024 by the Telangana government to protect lakes, playgrounds, open land, and other government property. It has conducted several operations to remove encroachments on water bodies in and around Hyderabad.
The agency has so far reclaimed over 1,045 acres of public land and water bodies, securing urban assets valued at approximately Rs 60,000 crore.
According to HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath, the agency has reclaimed government land, lakes, parks, nalas (drainage channels), and roads.
HYDRAA has been receiving complaints from people regarding encroachments on lakes, parks, roads, drainage channels, government land, and illegal layouts.
In October last year, HYDRAA removed encroachment on five acres of government land in the upscale Banjara Hills area to reclaim property worth Rs 750 crore.
The land was allegedly encroached by one Partharthy, who had even employed security personnel and dogs to protect it.