Hyderabad: HYDRA Given Full Powers to Protect Lakes and Government Lands
The well-known HYDRA (Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency) has been granted complete authority to protect lakes, water bodies, and government lands from illegal encroachments.
The state Cabinet approved a plan to give HYDRA powers similar to other government departments such as Irrigation, Revenue, Police, and Urban Development. This will enable HYDRA to take action against people illegally occupying government-owned properties and water bodies within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) area.
A new law will be introduced soon to officially give these powers to HYDRA. The Cabinet has also approved the creation of a 1,000-member workforce for HYDRA, which will be made up of employees from other departments and outsourced staff. This was announced by I&PR Minister P Srinivas Reddy after a three-hour Cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy at the Secretariat on Friday.
HYDRA will oversee 27 urban local bodies, 51 Gram Panchayats, and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). The agency will have the authority to demolish illegal buildings in Full Tank Level (FTL) and buffer zones around lakes and other water bodies.
Additionally, the Cabinet approved renaming several universities and institutions. The Women’s University will now be named after Telangana armed struggle leader Chakali Ilamma, the Telugu University will be renamed as Suravaram Pratap Reddy University, and the Indian Institute of Handloom Technology will be named after Konda Lakshman Bapuji.
State Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy also announced that the Cabinet has approved a revised budget for the long-pending SLBC project, which will now cost Rs 4,637 crore. The project is expected to be completed in two years. Additionally, a Rs 500 bonus for fine paddy will be given to farmers starting this kharif season.
The Cabinet has also decided to fill around 3,000 teaching and non-teaching positions in eight medical colleges. A notification for these job openings will be issued soon. A 12-member committee will also be set up to decide on the alignment of the southern part of the Regional Ring Road (RRR).
Other decisions made during the meeting include the establishment of a Molti Model Logistic Park on 73 acres, an Industrial Park in Khammam district, the supply of fine rice starting in January, new ration cards, the completion of the Dindi Balancing Reservoir, and the introduction of a Police Healthcare Scheme.
