HYDRAA Completes Two Years, Recovers 3,325 Acres of Government Land Worth Rs. 1.50 Lakh Crore in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has completed two years since its formation on July 19, 2024, recovering 3,325 acres of government land worth an estimated Rs. 1.50 lakh crore from encroachers across Hyderabad. Established by Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, the agency says it has focused on protecting public land, restoring lakes, preventing floods, and improving the city’s environment.

According to the official statement, the recovered land had been occupied by politically and financially influential encroachers, and the operations represent one of the biggest government land recovery drives since the integration of the princely states.

HYDRAA Formed to Tackle Floods, Water Scarcity and Pollution

The official note said that recurring monsoon floods, summer water shortages, and pollution have become major challenges for Indian cities, including Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana.

To address these issues, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy established the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) on July 19, 2024.

According to the statement, experts from various sectors have described the decision as a revolutionary and bold step. It added that HYDRAA has been able to achieve significant results because the Telangana government provided the agency with adequate powers and the freedom to function independently.

Within just two years, HYDRAA reclaimed 3,325 acres of government land from illegal encroachers. The government estimated the value of the recovered land at Rs. 1.50 lakh crore.

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HYDRAA Focuses on Improving Public Life Through Lake Development

The agency stated that lake restoration is not limited to increasing water storage but is also aimed at improving the quality of life for residents.

HYDRAA is developing the surroundings of lakes by creating:

• Children’s playgrounds
• Open gyms for people of all age groups
• Parks
• Green spaces
• Walking tracks

According to the statement, these improvements are transforming lakes into public recreational spaces while increasing greenery and strengthening environmental protection.

The note further explained that protecting urban lakes is not merely about water management but also about safeguarding future generations. Healthy lakes help control floods during the rainy season, recharge groundwater, reduce water shortages in summer, improve greenery, lower air pollution, and support biodiversity. The government said protecting lakes means protecting the future and ensuring Hyderabad develops into a safe, beautiful, and sustainable city.

Government’s Vision of a Flood-Free Hyderabad

The official statement recalled that nearly 100 years ago, the Nizam rulers invited renowned engineer Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, who planned the construction of Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar, helping protect Hyderabad from devastating floods.

The statement said that no comparable large-scale initiative followed until the present Telangana government under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy decided to revive Hyderabad’s interconnected chain of lakes.

In line with this vision, HYDRAA has:

• Restored 6 lakes
• Started restoration work on 14 additional lakes in the second phase
• Taken up development of 4 major lakes as part of the government’s plan to establish mini Tank Bunds across Hyderabad

The agency is also constructing improved inlets so floodwater flows directly into lakes and developing outlets that allow excess water to move through canals into downstream lakes after the lakes become full.

Bathukamma Kunta, Nallacheruvu and Other Lakes Restored

The official note highlighted several lake restoration projects completed by HYDRAA.

After clearing encroachments, Bathukamma Kunta in Amberpet was restored to control flooding. Earlier, just 5 centimetres of rainfall would flood the surrounding neighbourhoods and severely disrupt normal life. According to the statement, the lake has now been transformed into an attractive public space while significantly improving flood management.

Other major projects include:

• Nallacheruvu in Kukatpally, which has been developed into a tourist destination.
• Bam Rukn-ud-Daula Lake in the Old City, which has been beautified.
• Thammidikunta, where development works have prevented floodwater from accumulating around Shilparamam in Hyderabad’s IT Corridor for the past two years.

The statement added that if all lakes across Hyderabad are restored in a similar manner, flood control throughout the city will become much easier.

HYDRAA Recovers 3,325 Acres by Removing Encroachments

According to the official statement, Hyderabad once had vast stretches of vacant government land, including land acquired under the Urban Land Ceiling provisions and land inherited from the Nizam administration.

The government alleged that influential individuals with political and financial power illegally occupied large tracts of land, used forged documents to claim ownership, and encroached upon lakes before selling properties at higher prices by promoting them as “lake view” developments.

The statement emphasized that these lands belong to the public and should remain public property.

HYDRAA stated that it has avoided disturbing residential areas where people have already built homes and are living, while carrying out major operations against large-scale illegal encroachments.

Breakdown of Recovered Land

According to the official figures, HYDRAA recovered:

• Government land: 2,665 acres
• Lake encroachments removed: 454.11 acres
• Drain (Nala) encroachments removed: 25.37 acres
• Park encroachments removed: 90.39 acres
• Road and footpath encroachments removed: 62.18 acres
• Land reserved for public purposes recovered: 26.38 acres

The statement said that while these lands are valued at Rs. 1.50 lakh crore, their true value is far greater because they will serve as parks, water bodies, environmental assets, and land reserved for future public needs.

As HYDRAA marks two years since its establishment on July 19, 2024, the agency says it has recovered 3,325 acres of government land worth Rs. 1.50 lakh crore across Hyderabad while restoring lakes, removing illegal encroachments, and improving flood management infrastructure. According to the official statement, HYDRAA will continue protecting government land, restoring water bodies, and developing public spaces to achieve the Telangana government’s vision of a greener, flood-free, and sustainable Hyderabad.