HYDRAA Recovers 8.24-Acre Lake Land, Clears Encroachments Across Hyderabad

Hyderabad witnessed a major anti-encroachment drive on Tuesday as the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) intensified its crackdown on illegal structures across key locations in the city. The large-scale operation focused on protecting public spaces, water bodies, roads, parkland, and stormwater drainage infrastructure.

One of the most significant actions took place at Manchirevula in Gandipet, where officials recovered the 8.24-acre Nagireddykunta lake from encroachers. According to officials, the lake area had been illegally fenced off using 20-foot-high tin sheet walls, despite clear records in revenue and HMDA documents identifying it as a water body. Several portions of the lake land were allegedly occupied by private real estate firms, with temporary rooms also constructed using precast materials. HYDRAA removed all such structures, restored the original boundaries, and installed fencing and signboards.

In another major drive, officials cleared illegal commercial sheds and roadside shops along the 150-foot Gandimaisamma-Miyapur main road in Dundigal-Gandimaisamma mandal. The encroachments had reportedly caused traffic congestion and narrowed the carriageway. Around 10 temporary shop structures, including scrap businesses, were demolished.

The agency also acted in Ghatkesar’s Aushapur village, where land earmarked for a public park had allegedly been converted into six residential plots. The encroached 1,440-square-yard area has now been restored as parkland, with fresh fencing and official signage installed.

In Jubilee Hills, HYDRAA removed illegal sheds, boundary structures, and watchman rooms that had been built over critical stormwater drains carrying floodwater from the Madhapur Metro and Peddamma Temple catchment areas. The clearance is expected to improve urban flood management during the monsoon.

The latest operation underscores Hyderabad’s growing focus on protecting civic infrastructure, restoring public land, and ensuring urban planning norms are strictly enforced.