Formation and Governance of HYDRA
Latest News Updates HYDRA in Telangana. Government Order 99 was released by the state government, outlining the establishment, duties, and protocols of HYDRA. HYDRA will operate over a 2,000-square-kilometer area, operating inside the boundaries of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and adjoining villages, corporations, and panchayats. A senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer or someone with a higher status like a commissioner will serve as the agency’s head.
A.V. Ranganath, an IPS officer of IG rank, has been appointed Commissioner for Enforcement, Vigilance, and Disaster Management (EVDM) within GHMC, with responsibilities now extending to HYDRA’s jurisdiction, including the ORR. The GHMC’s Vigilance and Enforcement divisions will continue their operations within this new framework.
HYDRA Key Responsibilities and Operational Scope:
HYDRA’s mission includes:
Developing disaster protection plans for GHMC and nearby districts (Rangareddy, Sangareddy, Medchal).
Collaborating with national disaster response teams, weather agencies, and the National Remote Sensing Agency.
Establishing disaster response teams and addressing complaints about encroachments on parks, open spaces, and water resources.
Investigating and preventing illegal constructions and ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
HYDRA’s Organizational Structure:
The Municipal Administration & Urban Development (MA&UD) Department is in charge of HYDRA’s operations. Leading HYDRAA under the Principal Secretary to the Government, MA&UD Department, is the Commissioner, a senior officer. GHMC and the ORR are under HYDRAA’s supervision, with possible future changes by the government.
Establishing a Unified Disaster Management Agency:
The state government is creating a unified disaster management agency for the Telangana Core Urban Region (TCUR), including GHMC and surrounding districts, to streamline disaster response and enhance coordination.
demolition drives conducted by HYDRA in Hyderabad:
| Operation | Location | Number of Buildings Demolished | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osmansagar Buffer Zone | Osmansagar | 20 | Focused on structures encroaching buffer zones. |
| Green Belt Areas | Various Green Belt Areas | 48 | Included shanties and other unauthorized structures. |
The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection Agency (HYDRA) has been vigorously tackling illegal constructions in Hyderabad, focusing particularly on encroachments in water bodies and green zones.
Latest News Updates HYDRA in Telangana:
Hyderabad’s Crackdown on Illegal Constructions: HYDRAA’s Bold Demolition Drive
The Hyderabad Disaster Relief and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has intensified its efforts, creating a significant stir among land grabbers, builders, realtors, and politicians. Over the past ten days, HYDRAA has launched a rigorous demolition campaign, targeting illegal structures encroaching upon Full Tank Level (FTL) and buffer zones of water bodies within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits.
Armed with bulldozers and heavy machinery, the agency has been methodically dismantling unauthorized buildings, taking down more than 50 structures in areas such as Osman Sagar (40), Chilkur in Moinabad (7), Chanda Nagar in Serilingampally (3), Errakunta Cheruvu in Bachupally (3), Devendra Nagar in Gajularamaram (3), and Bum-Rukn-ud-Dowla lake near Shivrampally.
The demolitions are being conducted with no prior notice, causing considerable anxiety among encroachers and builders who are left uncertain about which structures will be targeted next. The HYDRAA ensures that every building slated for demolition is thoroughly vetted against official records before action is taken. This process includes deploying personnel, machinery, and police forces during early morning hours to efficiently carry out the demolitions.
Also Read: HYDRA in Telangana: Revolutionizing Disaster Management and Asset Protection
In addition to addressing unauthorized constructions on water bodies, the agency is also monitoring encroachments in parks, layouts, open spaces, playgrounds, nalas, and other land parcels. The authorities report receiving between 50 and 100 complaints daily, all of which are meticulously verified before any action is taken. The primary focus remains on removing encroachments around tanks within ORR limits.
Data from the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Balanagar, reveals a significant decrease of 61 percent in the extent of water bodies around Hyderabad between 1979 and 2024. Hyderabad contains 185 lakes within the GHMC limits and 400 within the ORR limits, underscoring the critical need for these measures.
Established by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, HYDRAA aims to safeguard assets of urban local bodies and government properties, including parks, layouts, open spaces, playgrounds, lakes, nalas, land parcels, roads, carriageways, and footpaths. The agency’s efforts to remove encroachments on lakes are coordinated with the GHMC and local bodies to ensure comprehensive asset protection.
The Hyderabad Disaster Relief and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) demolition drive:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Agency | Hyderabad Disaster Relief and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) |
| Objective | To remove illegal constructions in Full Tank Level (FTL) and buffer zones of water bodies within ORR limits. |
| Duration of Recent Campaign | Last 10 days |
| Method | Demolition using bulldozers and heavy machinery; conducted during early morning hours. |
| Number of Buildings Demolished | Over 50 |
| Key Locations Affected | – Osman Sagar (40 buildings) – Chilkur in Moinabad (7 buildings) – Chanda Nagar in Serilingampally (3 buildings) – Errakunta Cheruvu in Bachupally (3 buildings) – Devendra Nagar in Gajularamaram (3 buildings) – Bum-Rukn-ud-Dowla lake near Shivrampally |
| Types of Structures Targeted | – Osman Sagar (40 buildings) – Chilkur in Moinabad (7 buildings) – Chanda Nagar in Serilingampally (3 buildings) – Errakunta Cheruvu in Bachupally (3 buildings) – Devendra Nagar in Gajularamaram (3 buildings) – Bum-Rukn-ud-Dowla Lake near Shivrampally |
| Complaint Handling | 50-100 complaints received daily; thoroughly verified before action is taken. |
| Focus Area | Encroachments around tanks within ORR limits. |
| Data on Water Bodies | – 61% reduction in water bodies around Hyderabad (1979-2024) – 185 lakes within GHMC limits – 400 lakes within ORR limits |
| Established By | Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy |
| Primary Goals | Unauthorized buildings in FTL and buffer zones of water bodies, parks, layouts, open spaces, playgrounds, nalas, and land parcels. |
| Coordination | Disaster management, asset protection, safeguarding parks, layouts, open spaces, playgrounds, lakes, nalas, land parcels, roads, carriageways, and footpaths. |
More than 20 multi-storeyed buildings belonging to renowned establishments and companies, including that of a sports village, have been pulled down, he said. It was also discovered during the operation that the sewerage lines of several of these structures were connected to the drinking water reservoir
Conclusion:
Latest News Updates HYDRA in Telangana. has been established to enhance disaster management and asset protection across Hyderabad and its neighboring regions. With a robust framework outlined in Government Order 99, the agency is poised to address various challenges, including disaster response and illegal constructions. Under the leadership of a senior IAS officer and the Commissioner for Enforcement, Vigilance, and Disaster Management, HYDRA will focus on safeguarding public assets and ensuring regulatory compliance to support the city’s resilience and growth.
Frequently Asked Questions:
HYDRA is responsible for disaster response, asset protection, and regulation enforcement within Hyderabad and surrounding areas.
The agency is led by a senior IAS officer. Currently, A.V. Ranganath, an IPS officer, serves as the Commissioner for Enforcement, Vigilance, and Disaster Management (EVDM).
HYDRA operates within the GHMC limits and extends to surrounding municipalities, corporations, and village panchayats, covering a 2,000-square-kilometer area.
HYDRA’s responsibilities include disaster protection planning, collaborating with disaster response teams, addressing encroachments, and ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
HYDRA operates under the Municipal Administration & Urban Development (MA&UD) Department, with a Commissioner leading the agency and supervising operations within GHMC and the ORR.
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