HYDRAA secures 7 acres worth ₹400 crore government land in Old City
HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA) on Friday secured seven acres of government land in the Old City, estimated to be worth about ₹400 crore, after removing illegal fencing and evicting encroachers.
Encroached land reclaimed under police protection
The land is located near the railway track in the Mohammed Nagar–Lalithabagh area of Kandikal village in Bandlaguda mandal, Hyderabad district. Revenue officials said the total government land in Town Survey No. 28, Block F, Ward No. 274 measures 9.11 acres, of which about two acres have already been encroached upon and developed with houses. HYDRAA reclaimed the remaining seven acres without disturbing existing residential structures.
In the presence of revenue officials and under police protection, HYDRAA removed iron-sheet barricades erected to conceal activities inside the land. Fresh fencing was installed, and boards declaring the land as government property were put up.
Pond and drainage erased by encroachers
According to Survey of India maps, a pond once existed on the land. Officials said the waterbody and associated drains were completely buried with soil by encroachers to erase all visible traces.
Authorities said the land had been claimed by R. Venkatesh’s family and others, who are facing cases filed by revenue officials at Bhavani Nagar police station of Hyderabad commissionerate. Subsequently, another claimant approached the court stating that he had purchased the land from Pattabhi Rami Reddy. The court, however, imposed a ₹1 crore fine for wasting judicial time, observing that the land was government property.
Despite this, encroachers continued to pursue litigation and failed to vacate the land, officials said.
Locals welcome action
Residents of the Mohammed Nagar–Lalithabagh area expressed relief and welcomed HYDRAA’s action, stating that finding even a square yard of vacant land in the densely populated Old City is rare. They said reclaiming such a large tract of government land came as a surprise.
Representatives of the Kummariwadi Peace Welfare Society thanked HYDRAA for acting promptly after receiving complaints. They said illegal attempts were made to convert the land into plots for sale in a sensitive area between two communities, allegedly with backing from influential persons.
Locals noted that despite repeated complaints to the Bandlaguda tahsildar and police, and clear court rulings declaring the land as government property, encroachers continued attempts to sell plots. They urged authorities to restore the buried pond and drains, stating that it would help reduce flood risk in several Old City localities.
Residents also congratulated HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath, IPS, and called for strict action against encroachers.
