Hyderabad agency faces 700 court cases over land drives
HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Disaster Management and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has become the subject of nearly 700 legal cases within 15 months of its formation, even as it reports safeguarding more than 1,000 acres of public land and water bodies valued at ₹55,000 crore.
Encroachers hire top counsel as cases rise
Officials said most petitions have been filed by alleged encroachers and land grabbers challenging the agency’s demolition and anti-encroachment operations. Commissioner A V Ranganath is facing 31 contempt petitions.
Several petitioners have hired senior advocates from Delhi, reportedly paying up to ₹5 lakh an hour per court appearance. To manage the caseload, the agency has set up a legal cell with nine advocates to represent it in the Telangana high court and district courts.
Boundary-change, bund-building charges refuted
Many petitioners have accused the agency of violating court orders. “The petitions allege that we ignored directions by altering lake boundaries or building bunds. Some even claim blackmail, which is completely baseless,” an official said.
In a high-profile instance, four contempt petitions were filed against Ranganath after the agency demolished a four-kilometre compound wall around 200 acres in Pocharam municipality. In another case, three contempt petitions followed the demolition of a convention centre in Gachibowli that allegedly encroached on 20 acres of government land.
Agency cites legal mandate, promises safeguards
Despite the litigation, officials said the agency will continue work as mandated. “We have complete faith in the judiciary. These cases are part of the professional hazards of enforcing the law,” Ranganath said. “Every arm of governance understands our intent and the purpose of these demolitions.”
The agency maintains that it acts strictly under government directions to protect Hyderabad’s natural and public assets. It said no residential houses occupied before July 2024 will be affected, and cases requiring eviction will be referred to the government for compensation or rehabilitation.
Assets reclaimed
Government land: 532 acres
Roads: 223 acres
Lakes: 235 acres
Parks: 42 acres
