Hyderabad, Dec. 19 (Maxim News) : The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency on Friday safeguarded seven acres of government land in the densely populated Old City area, preventing large-scale illegal encroachment.
The protected land is located in Mohammed Nagar Lalithabagh near the railway track in Kandikal village of Bandlaguda mandal.
Officials said the land falls under Town Survey Number 28, Block F, Ward Number 274.
The total extent of government land in the area is nine acres. While two acres were encroached earlier and residential structures came up, HYDRA intervened to secure the remaining seven acres. Authorities estimated the value of the protected land at nearly Rs 700 crore.
HYDRA officials removed iron sheet barricades that were erected to conceal illegal occupation. The action was carried out in the presence of revenue officials and under police security.
After clearing the site, HYDRA installed fencing and placed boards declaring the land as government property. As a result, local residents expressed relief over the protection of public land.
According to officials, Survey of India maps confirm the existence of a lake on the land. However, encroachers had filled it with soil, erasing visible signs of the water body and nearby drainage channels. Authorities said restoring the lake and nalas could reduce flood risk in surrounding Old City localities.
Revenue officials stated that R Venkatesh had earlier claimed ownership of the land. Cases were registered against him at the Bhavani Nagar police station.
Subsequently, his heirs continued to assert ownership, while another individual, Pattabhi Venkata Ram Reddy, claimed he had purchased rights to the land. A court imposed a fine of Rs 1 crore for wasting judicial time after rejecting private ownership claims over government land.
Despite court orders, officials said encroachers continued legal attempts and resisted vacating the site.
HYDRA acted after verifying records and conducting a local inquiry. Therefore, the agency proceeded with fencing to prevent further encroachments.
Local residents of Mohammed Nagar Lalithabagh welcomed the action. Welfare groups said complaints were earlier submitted to the Mandal Revenue Officer, Tahsildar, and police.
Although courts had repeatedly ruled the land as government property, attempts were made to convert it into plots for sale.
Residents thanked HYDRA Commissioner A V Ranganath IPS for swift action.
They urged authorities to take strict measures against encroachers and restore the lake and drainage system.
They said such steps would protect public land and improve environmental conditions in the Old City. (Maxim News)
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