Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy Prioritizes Encroachment Removal at Ponds and Lakes
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy announced that the state government is prioritizing the removal of encroachments from ponds and lakes across Telangana. The Chief Minister emphasized the administration’s commitment to demolishing unauthorized structures on all water bodies, highlighting the urgent need to address these encroachments to prevent future natural disasters.
In response to growing demands for the expansion of the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRA), Chief Minister Reddy has directed officials to develop a comprehensive action plan. This plan will include a detailed report on existing encroachments and the resolution of any pending court cases related to these issues.
A press release from the Chief Minister’s office cited the recent success in Ram Nagar, Hyderabad, where encroachments on a local nala (drain) were removed to create a flood-safe zone. This initiative is part of a broader effort to safeguard the city from similar hazards.
Chief Minister Reddy also voiced concerns about the impact of natural calamities such as floods and landslides in Uttarakhand and Telangana, attributing these disasters to environmental degradation. The recent activities of HYDRA, which include demolishing illegal structures on lake beds such as those at Bam Rukn-ud-Daula and Gandipet tanks, underscore the government’s commitment to environmental protection. HYDRA has successfully reclaimed over 40 acres of land through these operations.
In light of these developments, advocacy groups like the Forum for Good Governance have called for the expansion of HYDRA or the creation of a new state-level agency to further enhance the management and protection of Telangana’s water bodies.
