Amidst ongoing opposition to the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA), Chief Minister Revanth Reddy assured Musi riverbed residents that no pressure would be applied to vacate their homes. He emphasized that HYDRAA targets encroachers, not the poor, and that proper relief and rehabilitation would precede any relocations. Revanth clarified that HYDRAA has not demolished structures in the Musi area, and those who relocated did so voluntarily.
He also explained HYDRAA’s role in regulating traffic, clearing drainage systems, and preventing illegal dumping in water bodies. The agency will act against encroachments on public lands and water bodies, but residents with valid government permits need not fear. Revanth accused BRS MLAs and BJP leaders of opposing HYDRAA to protect their illegal assets. He hinted at investigating unauthorized constructions, including farmhouses in violation of norms, while refraining from naming Congress members with similar violations.
Revanth Reddy Assures Musi Riverbed Residents: HYDRAA Targets Encroachers, Not the Poor
Amid growing concerns and opposition to the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA), Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has sought to clear the air and reassure the public. Speaking at the Rajiv Sadbhavana Yatra on Saturday, he addressed the anxieties of residents along the Musi riverbed, many of whom feared they would be forced out of their homes due to HYDRAA’s operations. The Chief Minister emphasized that HYDRAA’s purpose is to safeguard Hyderabad’s infrastructure and environment, specifically targeting encroachers, while ensuring that the poor and those with valid permits need not fear demolition.
HYDRAA: Misconceptions and Clarifications
Revanth Reddy highlighted that a lot of misinformation had been spread about HYDRAA, leading to unwarranted fear among the public. He stated that many believe the agency is involved in mass demolitions of homes and structures along the Musi riverbed and in other areas, which has caused panic among residents.
The Chief Minister was clear in his assurances: “No pressure will be exerted on the people living along the Musi riverbed to vacate their homes. The government is committed to ensuring that before any relocation takes place, relief and rehabilitation will be provided to the residents.” He clarified that HYDRAA had not demolished any homes in the Musi river area and explained that the agency’s role is distinct from the Musi rejuvenation project. In fact, he noted that many of the people who had voluntarily vacated their homes along the riverbed had done so after being provided with alternative housing, such as the government’s 2BHK housing scheme.
Reddy stressed that HYDRAA had not “demolished a single brick” in these cases. The demolitions that occurred were initiated by residents themselves after moving to the new housing. He assured the public that HYDRAA was not responsible for displacing any poor families and that the agency’s focus is on protecting public lands and water bodies from illegal encroachments.
HYDRAA’s Mandate: Safeguarding Hyderabad’s Infrastructure
HYDRAA was established with the goal of addressing a range of urban challenges that Hyderabad faces. Revanth Reddy explained that the agency’s main functions include regulating traffic, clearing accumulated trash from drains and underground drainage systems, and ensuring the free flow of water in these systems. One of its key responsibilities is to prevent the dumping of industrial waste into water bodies, which has become a significant environmental issue for the city.
Revanth also emphasized that HYDRAA would be used as a tool to combat illegal encroachments on government lands and water bodies. He said, “The agency will act against those who have encroached on water bodies or government lands. It’s a necessary step to ensure the city’s infrastructure remains functional and resilient, especially as Hyderabad continues to grow.”
In recent years, encroachments on public lands and water bodies have become a serious problem in Hyderabad, leading to increased flooding, drainage issues, and environmental degradation. HYDRAA’s role is to protect these critical resources and ensure they are not exploited by illegal constructions or industrial waste dumping.
Residents and Developers with Legal Permits Have Nothing to Fear
Revanth Reddy was keen to point out that HYDRAA’s operations are not intended to harm ordinary citizens or lawful businesses. “People who have built homes or structures with government permissions should have no fear about demolitions,” he said. This was a direct response to concerns raised by homeowners and real estate developers, who worried that their projects might be affected by HYDRAA’s activities.
Reddy clarified that anyone with valid permissions for their construction projects would be protected. “Real estate developers and builders who are working within the law have nothing to worry about. They can present their permissions to the officials, and there will be no issue with their homes or structures,” he stated. As the Chief Minister, Revanth Reddy took it upon himself to personally assure the public that HYDRAA’s actions would be targeted only at illegal encroachments and would not impact lawful developments.
Political Opposition to HYDRAA: Allegations of Self-Interest
During his speech, Revanth Reddy also addressed the political opposition that has formed against HYDRAA, particularly from members of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He alleged that prominent figures such as BRS MLAs Harish Rao, KT Rama Rao, and BJP MP Etala Rajender were opposing HYDRAA for personal reasons, as they have assets that might be affected by the agency’s work.
Reddy accused these leaders of opposing the agency’s operations because they wanted to protect their own illegal constructions. “A few people are trying to create hurdles in Telangana’s development, especially in the real estate sector. They are conducting false campaigns on social media to create fear and unrest,” he said.
The Chief Minister alleged that farmhouses in Janwada and Aziz Nagar were built illegally, violating Government Order 111, which restricts construction activities near the Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar lakes to protect these important water sources. According to Reddy, BRS leaders have been involved in these illegal constructions, and they are now trying to use their political influence to prevent HYDRAA from taking action against them.
Investigating Illegal Constructions: A Fact-Finding Committee
In response to these allegations, Revanth Reddy suggested that a fact-finding committee could be established to investigate the legality of the constructions in question. He challenged the BRS MLAs to cooperate with the committee if they were confident that their properties were legal. The Chief Minister seemed confident that this would expose the illegal actions of his political rivals and demonstrate that HYDRAA’s work was justified and necessary.
However, Reddy also refrained from pointing fingers at Congress members who might have been involved in similar illegal activities. This led some to question whether the Chief Minister’s focus on BRS and BJP leaders was politically motivated. Farmhouses in areas such as Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar, built by Congress leaders, were not mentioned during the speech, raising concerns about selective enforcement and bias in the government’s approach to tackling illegal encroachments.
HYDRAA: A Tool for Development, Not Displacement
In conclusion, Revanth Reddy’s message was clear: HYDRAA is a necessary tool for protecting Hyderabad’s infrastructure and ensuring sustainable development. Its focus is on tackling illegal encroachments and safeguarding public resources like water bodies and government lands. The Chief Minister went to great lengths to reassure the public that HYDRAA would not be used to target poor residents or lawful property owners, and that relief and rehabilitation would be provided before any relocation.
At the same time, Reddy used his platform to criticize political opponents who he claims are using their influence to derail HYDRAA’s work. His call for a fact-finding committee to investigate illegal constructions signaled a willingness to hold those in power accountable, though questions remain about whether this will apply evenly across the political spectrum.
Ultimately, HYDRAA’s success will depend on how effectively it balances its mandate to protect public lands and resources with the need to support Hyderabad’s ongoing urban development and ensure that residents are treated fairly.