HYDRA Reclaimed Govt Assets Worth Rs 1.5 Lakh Crore in Two Years: Commissioner
Hyderabad, July 27 (TNT): Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) Commissioner A.V. Ranganath on Monday said the agency had reclaimed government assets worth nearly ₹1.5 lakh crore during the past two years by removing encroachments on government lands, lakes and parks.
In a statement, Ranganath said HYDRAA had functioned in accordance with the spirit of Articles 21 and 48A of the Constitution, protecting public lands and environmental assets.
He said the agency had fully restored six lakes, while restoration works on 20 more lakes were progressing.
HYDRAA had also recovered hundreds of encroached lakes and parks and thousands of acres of government land from encroachers and restored them to the government, he claimed.
Ranganath alleged that land mafias and land grabbers were attempting to mislead courts by presenting false information to obstruct HYDRAA’s efforts.
Referring to the Lothukunta land issue, he alleged that a real estate firm had attempted to encroach upon government land worth nearly ₹10,000 crore and had carried out blasting on heritage rock formations valued at around ₹2,500 crore without the required permissions, besides destroying hundreds of trees.
He said HYDRAA intervened after receiving complaints from the Save the Rocks Society, environmental activists and local residents. According to him, the builder falsely claimed that the disputed land was located three kilometres away and later filed a contempt petition after HYDRAA prevented the alleged encroachment of 120 acres of government land.
The Commissioner said 63 contempt cases had been filed against him, alleging that all of them were initiated by influential land encroachers.
He also referred to several other alleged encroachment cases, including those relating to Bathukamma Kunta Lake, government land at Lothukunta, plots belonging to private citizens, land allegedly belonging to Singareni workers and other government properties.
Ranganath said his only “mistake” was standing in the way of land encroachments and asserted that he would contest all pending cases through legal means. Expressing confidence in the judiciary, he said he had always discharged his duties in accordance with the law.
He added that irrespective of the responsibilities entrusted to him by any government in future, he would continue to perform his duties with the same commitment and strive to deliver results.
TNT TS
