Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring Protection Agency (HYDRA) has continued its crackdown on illegal structures, including the demolition of the house of Mailardevpally BJP corporator, T Srinivas Reddy, which was built within the Full Tank Level (FTL) limits of Appa Cheruvu.
HYDRA has also taken strict action against corrupt officials who allowed construction in the FTL and buffer zones of water bodies. Cases have been filed against several Municipal and Revenue officials. Notices have been issued to some builders, and further action is expected within the next couple of days.
Officials announced that HYDRA will soon have its own police station. This will allow the agency to directly issue demolition notices for illegal structures, instead of relying on other agencies like the Irrigation and municipal wings.
The HYDRA team has already submitted a list of corrupt officials to the Police Commissioners of Cyberabad and Rachakonda, asking them to take legal action. As a result, the city police have registered cases against six officials. These include Nizampet Municipal Commissioner Ramakrishna, Chandanagar GHMC Deputy Commissioner Sudansh, Bachupalli MRO Pool Singh, Medchal-Malkajgiri Land Records Assistant Director Srinivasulu, HMDA Assistant Planning Officer Sudhir Kumar, and HMDA City Planner Rajkumar.
HYDRA has collected evidence to prove that these officials allowed the construction of buildings in violation of rules designed to protect lakes, ponds, and other water bodies within Greater Hyderabad. Some officials were found to have colluded with real estate developers, encouraging them to launch apartment and villa projects, which were then sold at high prices, deceiving consumers.
HYDRA officials mentioned that they are closely scrutinizing the role of GHMC and HMDA officials involved in permitting illegal constructions in the FTL and buffer zones of lakes. A thorough investigation into the encroachment of lakes by municipal officials is currently underway.
Evidence has already been gathered against at least 50 GHMC and HMDA officials involved in the illegal occupation of lakebeds. HYDRA plans to take action against them in a phased manner. The HYDRA Commissioner is expected to hold a high-level meeting with top officials of GHMC and HMDA next week to discuss disciplinary measures against these corrupt officials.
