HYDRAA

The Hyderabad Disaster Response Assets Monitoring and Protection Agency (HYDRAA) on Tuesday launched a major anti-encroachment drive in Rajendranagar, reclaiming over 1,094 square yards of public land earmarked for a park. The operation, however, was met with stiff resistance from local property owners, some of whom lay down in front of the bulldozers (JCBs) in an attempt to halt the demolition.

The move came after residents of the Nalanda Nagar colony lodged a complaint alleging that the designated park land in Haidarguda had been encroached upon. Responding to the complaint, HYDRAA officials, accompanied by municipal and police personnel, arrived with JCBs and began tearing down illegal structures, including boundary walls and sheds.

The situation quickly turned tense as local landowners confronted officials, accusing the agency of high-handedness. Video footage circulating on social media shows dramatic scenes of residents lying down on the ground in front of the machinery to prevent the demolition. Police were later called in to remove the protestors.

One property owner claimed that while their land measures 1 acre and 4 guntas, the HYDRAA survey pegged it at 30 guntas, marking the rest as encroached park land. They further alleged that although notices had been issued, sufficient time was not provided to respond or present documentation.

HYDRAA officials stood by their action, stating that the layout was approved by the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) in 2001, clearly designating the contested area as part of the Nalanda Nagar colony park. The agency maintains that protecting public assets, especially designated green zones, is crucial in a rapidly urbanizing city like Hyderabad.

The incident has reignited the debate around land regularization, encroachments, and the need for transparent and timely communication between government agencies and citizens. Further investigations and possible legal action may follow in the coming days.

Read More: HYDRAA Demolishes Wall in Hyderabad

(With inputs from agencies)

This article is published by Crime Today News ©