Why HYDRAA is loved by Telangana public and hated by politicians

Walkers and students are taking out rallies in support of HYDRAA. Activists are actively sharing satellite pictures of lakes past and present with HYDRAA. People now want the extension of HYDRAA to other districts of the state as well.

491 lakes encroached

What made HYDRAA so popular and admirable is its mandate to protect the lakes and nullahs of Hyderabad which are encroached by politicians and influential realtors who built farmhouses and huge residential complexes.

Soma Ilaiah, a fruit vendor on the Nagole-Bandlaguda Road in Hyderabad East wants immediate demolition of an encroachment on a nullah nearby. Pointing at a function hall and massive shed that sprang up a few yards away from his push cart, the migrant hawker narrated how the nullah that used to evacuate into the Nagole lake, disappeared before his eyes. He was inspired by the news that HYDRAA had demolished 166 encroachments owned by high-profile owners and recovered 43.94 acres of land.

Lakes are aplenty in and around Hyderabad city. According to Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramaraka, there are about 920 lakes in Hyderabad and 491 have been encroached.

Revenue officials facilitate encroachments by assigning a survey number to the lakebed, registration authorities legalise them by registering the land, and Municipal authorities grant permission to construct farmhouses.

KTR's farmhouse

While a farmhouse allegedly built in Janwada by Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) working president KT Ramarao (KTR) is a star attraction, names of Congress stalwarts including minister Ponguleti Srinivasulu Reddy, former Rajya Sabha member KVP Ramachandra Rao, MLA G Vivek Venkataswamy, former Lok Sabha MP Madhu Yaski Goud and Anumula Tirupati Reddy, brother of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also figure in the list of lake grabbers.

Questioning the proposal to demolish the Janwada farmhouse, in which he is residing, KTR released a list of lake encroachers that include Telangana Legislative Council Chairman Gutha Sukhender Reddy and MLC Patnam Mahender Reddy.

Many politicians are struggling to defend their illegal structures.

The encroachments of AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi on a lake are quite popular. Every influential politician has a farmhouse on one lakebed or the other in Hyderabad. The demolition of N Convention Centre built in the lakebed by movie actor Akkineni Nagarjuna in the heart of the city made HYDRAA extremely popular and fearsome. Now, people are waiting with bated breath for HYDRAA's next target.

HYDRAA, the brainchild of Chief Minister Reddy, was created on July 19, 2024, by the Department of Municipal Administration and Urban Development as an agency for planning, organising, coordinating and implementing measures for prevention of urban disasters.

What caught the people’s attention was its mandate to protect public assets such as parks, open spaces, playgrounds, lakes, nullahs, land parcels, roads, carriageways, footpaths, etc from encroachments. An able, non-controversial, low-key IPS officer AV Ranganath was appointed as the commissioner of HYDRAA. He became a supercop overnight with his silent operations. HYDRAA will spread its tentacles in Telangana Core Urban Region (TCUR) comprising the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and all urban and rural local bodies up to Outer Ring Road (ORR).

What HYDRAA chief said

The familiar sound and easy pronunciation of the acronym HYDRAA, unlike the abbreviations of other government bodies, has made it an instant hit.

“A lot of thinking has gone into the selection of HYDRAA. We wanted an acronym that is catchy and easy to spell," HYDRAA chief Ranganath told The Federal.

According to Prof. BV Subbarao, a lakes and rivers expert, a movement is building up among the public in support of HYDRAA because the agency is seen as a liberator of Hyderabad from the clutches of lake encroachers.

“If you are politically connected you can encroach upon lakes and nullahs. The period between 2014 and 2024 was a golden era for encroachers. The people watched the grabbing helplessly. Hyderabad floods are the result of these large encroachments of lakes and nullahs. When HYDRAA demolished the illegal structures on lake beds, the anger turned into public jubilation,” Prof. Subbarao said.

'1 acre of lake land can store 4 lakh litres of rainwater'

How much land HYDRAA could recover is immaterial, he said. “Even if it restores an acre, it is an achievement because an acre of lake land can store 4 lakh litres of rainwater. If 100 acres are restored 40 million litres of water is saved. If HYDRAA could remove all encroachments in lakes, Hyderabad doesn’t require Godavari waters,” he said.

Activist Lubna released a video with satellite pictures on how Surram Cheruvu in Bandlaguda, Palle Cheruvu in Rajendranagar, and Yerrakunta of Shaheen Nagar were being encroached. Stating that Hyderabad floods in 2020 were caused solely by these encroachments, she urged HYDRAA commissioner to revive these lakes immediately so that floods could be averted in September-October.

Meanwhile, AIMIM supremo Owaisi questioned the legality of HYDRAA. His brother and MLA, Akbaruddin Owaisi made an emotional appeal to HYDRAA against demolition of their empire built on the lakebed of Chandrayanagutta-Bandlaguda Cheruvu.

“Attack me with swords and guns. But do not demolish our colleges meant for the poor,” he said.

As per Google Earth pictures, the cheruvu (lake) was free of encroachment between 2012 and 2014. Later, in 2015 the lake was filled up to make room for a residential colony (MM Colony) where Owaisi family-run Salar-e-Millat Educational Trust built Fathima Owaisi Women’s College, and Owaisi School of Excellence. Activist Lubna said entire areas would be flooded in 2020 because of the greed of Owaisis.

'CM riding a tiger'

Chief Minister Reddy has assured the public that HYDRAA operations will continue irrespective of the political affiliation of the encroacher. He revealed that the first farmhouse to face demolition was owned by MM Pallamraju, Congress leader and former Union Minister.

“Demolitions will take place on a priority basis starting with those in full tank level (FTL) followed by those in buffer zone and nullahs. Educational institutions will be given time till the end of the academic year,” he said.

Talking about the authorities who allowed these constructions, HYDRAA boss Ranganath told The Federal all those responsible for the illegal constructions would be prosecuted.

Appreciating Reddy's bold move, CPI national secretary Dr A Narayana said the high-risk drive was like riding a tiger. “Even if it is difficult, Revanth has to continue the ride. If he dismounts, the tiger will eat him away,” he said.