What Hyderabad homebuyers & owners need to know about HYDRA
Hyderabad's newly formed HYDRA agency, tasked with disaster response and asset protection, has faced significant controversy since its inception. HYDRA operates across the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and beyond, focusing on tackling encroachments and protecting public assets.
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Monitoring and Protection Agency (HYDRA) has been controversial since its inception for demolishing a large number of settlements. In August 2024, HYDRA came into limelight when the body razed a part of N-Convention Centre which was owned by actor Nagarjuna.
In July 2024, the Telangana state government, led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, dissolved the Enforcement, Vigilance and Disaster Management (EVDM) wing of the government and replaced it with HYDRA. The strength of the previous body was upgraded from 800 to 2,200 personnel. The body was formed with the responsibility of managing disaster response and protecting public assets in the Telangana Core Urban Region (TCUR). The body has jurisdiction over the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and extends to all rural and urban bodies up to the Outer Ring Road (ORR).
AV Ranganath, GHMC's Commissioner of Enforcement Vigilance & Disaster Management (EV&DM) is the head of the agency. It functions under the supervision of Dana Kishore, the Municipal Administration & Urban Development (MA&UD) principal secretary.
Revanth Reddy established the agency with the intention of addressing the issues arising from the rapid urban growth of Hyderabad. To tackle these challenges comprehensively, the body has been divided into three primary divisions.
HYDRA's three wings
1. Asset Protection Wing: The main role of this department is to safeguard assets such as lakes, parks, open spaces, playgrounds and other land portions from encroachments. This also monitors private properties for building and town planning violations and takes penal action against illegal advertising.
2. Disaster Management Wing: This division is tasked to coordinate with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for disaster response and carry out relief work. It will also coordinate with other national and state agencies, including technical agencies like the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
3. Logistics Support Wing: The section is supposed to provide important disaster response information through the Disaster Response Information System for the TCUR region.
During its inception, the former EVDM commissioner and HYDRA chief AV Ranganath clarified the primary goal of the agency, saying, "Hydra’s primary focus will be on tackling the challenges faced by Hyderabad, especially eliminating encroachments and illegal constructions. It will also ensure the protection of water bodies in and around Hyderabad.”
Controversial demolitions
The agency cited the reason for demolishing the part of N-Convention Centre laid in 10-acre land, alleging that the structure illegally encroached 1.12 acres upon the Full Tank Level (FTL) or the buffer zone of the Thammidi Kunta Lake.
Actor Nagarjuna, owner of the convention centre, in turn, alleged that the body did not issue any notice to him before taking action. In a post on X, he said, "The land is Patta land, and not even an inch of the tank plan is encroached. With respect to the building constructed inside the private land, there is a stay order granted against any earlier illegal notice for demolition. Today, clearly, the demolition was carried out wrongfully based on misinformation.”
Most of the demolitions carried out by the agency were on the banks of the Chintal Cheruvu (lake) in the Gajularamaram area and the Bhumraq Dowla Lake in Rajendra Nagar. Several of the demolished structures were owned by politicians from opposition parties, who accused the Chief Minister of engaging in vendetta politics. This political blame game further fuelled the controversies surrounding the agency.
In a court hearing, the Telangana High Court expressed its dissatisfaction with HYDRA over its demolition carried out in Khajaguda Brahmanakunta. The court called out the body for not giving adequate time for responses, as the demolition was conducted within 24 hours of issuing notices. The court also warned HYDRA’s commissioner about following proper procedures, or else he will be summoned again.
"HYDRA is a separate entity similar to vigilance, GHMC, and HMDA, which is based on our present requirement. HYDRA is going to protect water bodies like lakes, buffer zones, nalas and government properties and prevent illegal construction in them. We wanted to create a single umbrella body for streamlining of traffic and management of any disaster,” Revanth Reddy said in an interview with The Hindu.