HYDRAA carries out demolition drive across Hyderabad

HYDRAA conducts massive demolition drive targeting unauthorized constructions in Hyderabad, clarifies stance on FTL and buffer zones.

A massive demolition drive was conducted by the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HYDRAA) in various parts of Hyderabad on Sunday (September 8, 2024.) The operation, which involved the assistance of revenue and police authorities, targeted unauthorised constructions in and around waterbodies.

Drama unfolded at the gated community of villas developed by Laxmi Srinivasa Constructions in Mallampet. Despite permission being granted for 65 villas, 255 more had been built illegally. The authorities began demolishing structures, starting with two villas constructed in the FTL area.

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Initially, two villas constructed in the FTL were razed, followed by five more in the buffer zone. In all, 20 villas have been marked as ‘unauthorised’ constructions and a red ‘X’ was marked on them. Dundigal Tahsildar Syed Matheen said that notice would be served on the remaining owners of the villas and demolition taken up in due course. “We are going to demolish eight villas today and bring down the remaining unauthorised constructions as per the notices given by the Irrigation Department officials,” he said. 

An office bearers of the gated community in Laxmi Srinivasa Constructions at Mallampet said the HYDRAA personnel’s visit was unexpected on Sunday morning. The residents were asked to vacate their houses within 30 minutes. The office bearer said sometime in 2020, notices had been served on six villas stating that they were constructed in FTL. Subsequently, several people purchased villas ranging from ₹60-lakhs in 2018 to ₹1.50 crore recently. 

Many villas are completed and some in various stages of construction. “We have not been served any notice since 2020 and now suddenly the officials come and ask us to vacate the houses. The demolition drive is against the word given by HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath that the houses in the buffer zone will not be demolished without notices. But, what is happening today is against his promise,” the office bearer asked.

Residents of the community expressed outrage, claiming that they had not received adequate notice before the demolition. They argued that HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath had previously assured them that houses in the buffer zone would not be demolished without proper notice.