In one of its most significant operations to date, the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has reclaimed 36 acres of government land in Kondapur, Rangareddy district, valued at approximately ₹3,600 crore. The move comes after a directive from the High Court, and involved demolition of illegal structures and securing the site with fencing and signage.
Location & Legal Basis
- The reclaimed plot lies in Survey No. 59, near the RTO office in Kondapur, within Serilingampally mandal.
- HYDRAA clarified that the land was under illegal occupation for years, with occupants erecting temporary sheds and running commercial activities in violation of regulations.
- During court proceedings, claimants cited older local land assignment laws (Laoni Rules) or temporary pattas, but the High Court rejected these claims, stating those rules do not apply within 10 miles of Hyderabad’s city limits. The court affirmed the land legally belongs to the government.
Execution of the Operation
- The operation began early Saturday morning. Under police protection, HYDRAA teams removed dozens of makeshift commercial sheds including vehicle wash shops, eateries, moped charging stalls, and service garages.
- Resistance was reported: local occupants, some of them farmers, claimed they held documents or pattas. Tensions rose as demolition machinery entered the site. However, police intervened to keep order and allow the eviction to proceed.
- Following the clearance, HYDRAA officials fenced the land perimeter and installed signage declaring it government property. Public notices warned of legal action against any re-encroachment.
Significance & Context
- This is HYDRAA’s second most valuable recovery after it reclaimed 317 acres in the Gajularamaram area earlier, valued at around ₹15,000 crore.
- The operation is significant because the land sits in a rapidly developing corridor of Hyderabad. With IT and real estate development booming in the west, land values in Kondapur have surged. Encroachment on such prime land has been a major concern.
- Earlier this year, HYDRAA has also been active in recovering other government lands across Hyderabad including in Satamrai near Shamshabad, and smaller tracts in Jubilee Hills.
Reactions & Concerns
- Some occupants resisted, claiming long tenure or use, and said their removal was harsh. They argue that in some cases they have resided or done business for decades.
- Local advocates and opposition voices are calling for transparency in how HYDRAA identifies encroachments and how it handles claims. They warn against displacing genuine residents wrongly.
- HYDRAA officials defended the operation, stressing that their mandate is to protect public assets, enforce court orders, and prevent further illegal occupation of government land.
Looking Ahead
- The reclaimed land is expected to be used by the government for public infrastructure or conservation, though specific plans have not yet been announced.
- HYDRAA will likely increase surveillance of the area to prevent future encroachments.
- Legal cases arising from eviction claims may work their way through the courts, possibly testing the balance between residents’ claims and government property rights.
