**Hyderabad:** The Telangana government has started a new organization called the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA). This agency will help plan, organize, and coordinate efforts to prepare for and prevent urban disasters. It will work with other state and national agencies to respond quickly and carry out rescue operations during any disaster.
The government wants a single, unified agency to manage disasters in the Telangana Core Urban Region (TCUR). This includes areas within the Outer Ring Road. Orders have been issued to create this agency. The governing body of HYDRAA will be led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. Other members include the Municipal Administration Minister, in-charge ministers of Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Sangareddy, and Medchal-Malkajgiri, the GHMC Mayor, Chief Secretary, DGP, principal secretaries of Revenue and MAUD, the head of the integrated command control center, and the HYDRAA Commissioner.
The HYDRAA Commissioner will handle responsibilities related to disaster management, asset protection, enforcement, and other tasks assigned by the government. HYDRAA’s area of responsibility will cover the entire GHMC region and all urban and rural local bodies up to the Outer Ring Road. The government may also add or remove areas from HYDRAA’s jurisdiction in the future.
HYDRAA will have sections dedicated to asset protection, disaster management, and logistical support. If HYDRAA needs to use powers held by other authorities, it can either coordinate with those authorities or be given those powers according to legal procedures. HYDRAA will protect local and government assets like parks, open spaces, playgrounds, lakes, and nalas. It will also help remove encroachments on lakes, working together with GHMC and other local bodies, as well as the police.
