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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Telangana High Court refuses to grant relief in Bathukamma Kunta lake land dispute
The Telangana High Court on Tuesday refused to grant any interim relief to a petitioner who claimed that land in his possession is now submerged and located inside the recently restored Bathukamma Kunta lake in Hyderabad's Bagh Amberpet area. While the petitioner contended that the disputed land was only a low-lying area that was dug up further and subsequently collected rainwater to form a lake, the court looked at recent photographs of the lake restored by the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA) to refuse interim relief to the petitioner. Justice B Vijaysen Reddy was dealing with the petitioner's claim that the land measuring 988.49 sq m was never formally acquired by the state under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act 1976 and that the acquisition proceedings under this Act remained incomplete. Despite this, the petitioner alleged, the land was unilaterally designated for public or conservation purposes in the master plan and a low-lying area has been dug up further to create a lake. The plea asked the court to set aside G.O. Ms. No. 363 dated August 21, 2010, and subsequently G.O. Ms. No. 120 dated December 2, 2010, but only to the extent that these orders affect the specific property. The core of the argument is that if the land was never legally acquired, the government has no right to alter its classification or ownership status in official records or planning documents. Appearing for the petitioner, senior counsel B Mayur Reddy said the state was wrongfully claiming that a lake existed at the place, and showed a photograph to this effect. He asked the state to formally acquire the land before declaring the site as a lake. The government pleader, opposing the petitioner's claims, argued that the entire five-acre land was now a part of the restored Bathukamma Kunta lake. He then submitted photographs of a water-filled lake to state that no land of the petitioner existed within the disputed area. Reddy said that if the court could consider a photograph with a lake, he could submit a photograph of the same place without a lake and also submit photographs showing bulldozers digging up the land to create the lake. Adding that the photographs do not reveal there is any land available on the sides of the lake, the judge asked the senior counsel to show the actual location of his land within the lake site before further proceedings. The case was adjourned for a date two weeks later.
Hans India
20-06-2025
- Climate
- Hans India
Streetlights conked off? Baldia babus told to fix blinking woes
Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is set to expedite the works of street lighting across the city. Following numerous complaints from corporators and residents about the dysfunctional streetlights, the GHMC commissioner RV Karnan ordered the officials to promptly solve the issue to prevent accidents and other untoward situations, especially in the rainy season. On Thursday, the Commissioner held a conference with Additional and Zonal Commissioners and HODs on dysfunctional streetlights, desilting, sanitation, mosquito control, and tax collection. Following numerous complaints from both corporators and the public, he directed the Zonal Commissioners to conduct evening field visits to identify the underlying causes of these problems and address them effectively. To ensure that issues do not arise, RV Karnan instructed the officers to arrange personnel and resources effectively. Special measures must be implemented to avert potential problems. It is essential for Zonal and Deputy Commissioners, along with Electrical Engineers, to visit the areas where complaints are reported and address these issues promptly. Furthermore, the commissioner emphasized the importance of maintaining sanitation during the rainy season to curb the spread of seasonal illnesses. It is crucial to continue fogging efforts to combat dengue and malaria. Intensive IEC programmes should be implemented through ALOs, along with awareness initiatives targeting students in schools and colleges. Due to the insufficient progress in desilting, the Zonal Commissioners were instructed to take action to ensure advancement by coordinating with Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA).
Indian Express
11-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Prisons Department to join hands with HYDRAA to develop Cherlapally Lake in Hyderabad
The residents of Cherlapally in Hyderabad will soon enjoy a beautiful public space surrounding a rejuvenated lake adjoining the Central Prison. Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has been assigned the responsibility of developing and beautifying the 58-acre Cherlapally Lake, on the request of Soumya Mishra, Director General of the Prisons Department. HYDRAA engineering officers stated that as part of the rejuvenation project, a nearly 3-kilometer-long walking track would be built around the lake, along with pathways, mini-parks, trees, seating arrangements, and CCTV cameras. They also said the Cherlapally Lake is connected to six chain lakes from Hakimpet and includes a diversion nala to prevent sewage from contaminating its waters. Mishra met with A V Ranganath, Commissioner of HYDRAA, on Tuesday, and showed him videos of the lake situated on the Cherlapally jail premises. Ranganath instructed his team to rejuvenate the lake has promised to visit the lake soon. 'Earlier, Ameenpur Lake was rejuvenated by the Telangana Special Protection Force, which resulted in the return of migratory birds. Similarly, as part of our environmental consciousness, we have been doing a lot of things, and we believe this initiative serves to give back to society,' Mishra told Mishra also stated that the representatives from Cherlapally Industries are ready to provide funds for reviving the lake under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. 'At our open-air prison in Cherlapally, our inmates are already doing a lot. Besides our prisoners who work outside, we can also employ released prisoners along with our staff to develop and upkeep the lake. Once the community gets involved, they will be less likely not defile it. Our inmates will feel useful contributing to society,' the DG added. During the meeting, Mishra lauded HYDRAA's efforts in preserving and restoring the lakes, nalas, and government and public utility lands. Officials from HYDRAA and the Prisons Department also attended the meeting.
Hans India
24-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
Tension erupts as HYDRA razes illegal structures in Jubilee Hills
Hyderabad: Tension prevailed on Friday near Peddamma Temple in Road No. 41, Jubilee Hills, after the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRA) has launched a major demolition drive to clear illegal constructions along stormwater drains. On the complaint filed by the representatives of Jubilee Hills Society and residents of the area that the open drain has been encroached and illegal structures were constructed, HYDRA Commissioner AV Ranganath has examined this matter at the field level. On Friday, HYDRA took up demolitions of the illegal structures and razed them across an area covering more than 500 yards. HYDRA authorities identified these illegal constructions as major obstacles to proper drainage flow which increased flood risks in city during heavy rains, and conducted the demolition drive. Following the demolition, HYDRA reclaimed two acres of park land and nala land worth more than Rs 200 crore. A tenant who rented a house had occupied the land intended for government and public purposes without the knowledge of the owner. The tenant was running hotels and hostels and collecting rent of Rs 10 lakh per month. HYDRA said after notices were issued in the past, the tenant had approached the court. The court stated that the tenant had no right over those structures. The removal of structures that were encroaching on the nala and the road was taken up with the court orders. Meanwhile, HYDRA on Thursday night responded promptly to flooding in Maruthinagar, Champapet, after unseasonal rains on Wednesday night caused water to enter several homes. The flooding was triggered by a mismatch in canal sizes between the floodwater canal from Salkam Cheruvu and the narrower canal in Maruthinagar. The local box drain was both undersized and clogged with garbage, leading to overflow. HYDRA officials acted swiftly, deploying a JCB machine to clear the blockage. The floodwater is now flowing smoothly, bringing relief to residents. Ranganath visited the affected area on Thursday for a ground-level inspection. He identified the primary causes of the flooding and highlighted the need to widen the Maruthinagar canal to ensure proper flow from upstream during heavy rains. With the monsoon season approaching, the Commissioner instructed teams to remain on alert in flood-prone areas to prevent similar incidents.
Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
HYDRAA clears encroachments in Jubilee Hills, reclaims park land worth Rs 200 crore
The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA) on Friday said that it has cleared illegal constructions that encroached upon the nala and park road near Peddamma Gudi on Road No 41 in Jubilee Hills in the city. This demolition has opened up access to a park spanning approximately 2 acres. The individual had not only encroached upon the government land, but was also earning a revenue of approximately Rs 10 lakh per month from the land parcel. 'Two acres of park land or nala land worth more than Rs 200 crores is reclaimed. Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has decided to develop a good park on this land very soon,' said HYDRAA Commissioner A V Ranganath. According to a HYDRAA, the encroacher, a tenant, had rented a house and illegally occupied government and public land surrounding the property without the owner's knowledge. This individual was operating hotels and hostels by encroaching upon the road and nala, collecting an estimated ₹10 lakh by way of rent monthly, the statement said. HYDRAA had previously issued notices to the tenant regarding the illegal structures. However, the tenant approached the court challenging the notices. The court, however, ruled that the tenant had no rights over these constructions and criticised the illegal encroachment of the road and nala. Following the court's orders, the structures built by encroaching on the nala and road were demolished. The Telangana government set up HYDRAA last year with a jurisdiction in Hyderabad and surrounding urban local bodies primarily to address the increasing urban challenges faced by the city, particularly concerning disaster management and protection of public assets from illegal encroachments. Recently, on May 8, the first HYDRAA police station at the B-Block of the Buddha Bhavan in Secunderabad was inaugurated by Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. With its own policing powers, it can register and investigate cases, fight land grabbing and encroachment, reclaim government lands, roads, parks, ponds, and canals.
