Latest news with #Ranganath
Hans India
21 minutes ago
- Hans India
Man duped of Rs 5 lakh in fake gold coin scam, suspect absconding
Davangere: A man from Tumakuru district was allegedly duped of Rs5 lakh by a fraudster who promised to sell him antique gold coins at a throwaway price. The incident came to light in Kurki village of Davangere taluk, where the victim, Ranganath of Chimpuganahalli in Koratagere taluk, fell prey to a well-planned scam. According to the complaint, Ranganath had come into contact with the accused, identified as Suresh from Hubballi, about a year ago during a visit to the Mahalakshmi temple in Goravanahalli. The two exchanged phone numbers and kept in occasional touch. About a week ago, Suresh allegedly contacted Ranganath and claimed that a stash of antique gold coins had been found while demolishing his ancestral house. He told Ranganath that he was in urgent need of money and would offer the coins at a highly discounted price, provided Ranganath kept the deal confidential. To gain trust, Suresh initially handed over one genuine gold coin to Ranganath, which the latter tested and found to be real. Believing the story, Ranganath expressed interest in buying more. Suresh then quoted a price of Rs20 lakh per kilogram, to which Ranganath said he could afford only Rs5 lakh and requested 250 grams worth of coins. The two agreed to meet near Kurki village in Davangere on Tuesday. Suresh handed over what he claimed were 250 grams of gold coins and collected Rs5 lakh in cash. However, after testing the coins, Ranganath discovered they were fake. Realizing he had been duped, Ranganath rushed to the Hadadi Police Station and lodged a complaint. A case has been registered, and police have launched an investigation to trace and apprehend the accused, who is currently absconding.
New Indian Express
20-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Everyone should protect nature to protect themselves: HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath
HYDERABAD: HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath stated that everyone can lead a healthy life only by protecting the natural environment. He stressed the agency has taken an oath to protect water bodies, parks and open spaces. 'We can protect nature only through collaboration,' Ranganath said. 'Clearing encroachments is a hectic task. We should not fall prey to the greed of a few selfish people. More importantly, it is everyone's responsibility to ensure that nature is not destroyed,' he highlighted. On the occasion of completing one year of HYDRAA, the commissioner inspected an exhibition — Social and Environmental Issues — organised by students from various schools at Ravindra Bharathi on Saturday. Ranganath said that keeping the future of the city in mind, the agency is protecting the lakes, parks, roads and nalas from encroachments. Despite many obstacles in this journey, HYDRAA works tirelessly to provide environmental benefits to future generations, he added.
New Indian Express
19-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
HYDRAA reclaimed assets worth Rs 30,000 crore: AVRanganath
HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Disaster Management and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) on Friday marked its first year of existence with a public event at Bathukamma Kunta in Amberpet, where students joined hands with local residents to form a human chain. The location for the celebration was apt, as it symbolises HYDRAA's efforts to reclaim and safeguard public assets. According to HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath, the agency has reclaimed approximately 500 acres of public land, including water bodies, nalas, parks and open spaces. He estimated this reclaimed land to be worth over Rs 30,000 crore. 'In the past year, we have faced resistance and legal hurdles, but managed to recover and protect key public spaces,' Ranganath said. The agency, set up to address encroachments on public land, has focused on both recovery and development. Many of the reclaimed lakes are being restored to support rainwater harvesting and improve local ecosystems. 'We are working to divert rainwater from roads and the Musi River back into city lakes to strengthen Hyderabad's water resilience,' Ranganath said. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has been closely following the progress at Bathukamma Kunta and is expected to visit the site on September 21 for Bathukamma. Ranganath pointed out that the chief minister has tasked HYDRAA with not only to remove encroachments but also to ensure the long-term upkeep and usability of public infrastructure. On concerns raised by some residents regarding demolitions, Ranganath clarified that houses built before HYDRAA's establishment have been exempted. He also reiterated that the agency operates within the legal framework laid out by the state government and the Supreme Court.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Bathukammakunta Lake restoration nearing completion; Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) revives forgotten water body in Amberpet
HYDERABAD: The restoration of Bathukammakunta in Amberpet is nearing completion with Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) leading the effort to bring the lake back to life after years of neglect. Once spread across 14 acres, the lake significantly shrank over time and was completely dry until late 2024. During a desilting and excavation drive, water was unexpectedly found a few feet below the surface, prompting further work to assess and restore the site, HYDRAA commissioner A V Ranganath has said. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad While progress was temporarily stalled due to a legal dispute over ownership, a court ruling in early 2025 cleared the way for HYDRAA to resume work. The lake bed was deepened, accumulated debris was cleared, and steps were taken to allow natural water recharge. Residents in the area have welcomed the changes, noting the return of water and improved surroundings. For many, the site holds cultural value, especially during the Bathukamma festivities. "We are also working on basic amenities around the lake such as walking paths, greenery, and measures to prevent sewage inflow. We aim to make the lake functional both as a water body and a community space, Ranganath added.
The Hindu
08-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Hyderabad lake rejuvenation: After years of drought and doubt, Bathukamma Kunta begins to fill up
Bathukamma Kunta, the area in Amberpet which has had a water body merely in the name for past two decades, now shows an actual 'Kunta', which in Telugu means pond. The Hyderabad Disaster Response & Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), on Tuesday, shared pictures of the water body, with ongoing embankment works taken up by the agency. Sharing the aerial view of the pond, HYDRAA chief said the lake rejuvenation works are going in in full swing, and are expected to be completed by this September. Bathukamma Kunta is one of the six lakes taken up by HYDRAA for rejuvenation, the others being Bam Rukn-ud-Daula, Thammidikunta, Sunnam Cheruvu, and two Nalla Cheruvus, one in Uppal and another in Kukatpally. Works at Bathukamma Kunta started around February, when the excavators machinery deployed by HYDRAA yielded copious amounts of ground water. HYDRAA issued a statement that this was proof of a lake existing at the location, which was disputed by a plaintiff who approached the court. Towards the last week of April, the city civil court ruled in favour of HYDRAA, after which the works gathered pace. Constructed on all four sides and devoid of vegetation, the water body, despite all the efforts by the agency, looks more like an artificial pool of the sort created in a resort as of now. Closed in by a walking track and defined in its shape, the pond is filled with green, slimy water. When approached, clarified that it was ground water mixed with stormwater from surrounding localities, stagnated for two months. Arrival of stormwater is facilitated by the inlet drain constructed after diversion of sewage. Mr. Ranganath added that the outlet channel up to Musi river is still a work in progress. It will be a challenging task, he said, as the drain has to find its way through heavily constructed localities. Once the task is completed, the pond will have fresh water. According to the maps displayed on the website of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), Bathukamma Kunta was first surveyed in 2013, when its full tank level (FTL) perimeter was determined as about 1.4 kilometres. No water spread was mentioned, nor the FTL in acres, but the area surveyed by the consultant was over 14 acres. Historical satellite images since 2010 show that the lake had never had water, with all inlets and outlets closed on all sides. It remained dry even during the 2020 floods when several lakes overflowed in the city. The survey of India maps, however, vouch for the existence of a water body there. The FTL area got heavily encroached even after the survey, with multiple structures cropping up within, as visible from the satellite images. The Lake Protection Committee, which was constituted under HMDA in 2010, did precious little on this front, with final notification of the lake still pending. The water body developed by HYDRAA occupies only a portion of the original lake.
