The Hyderabad Disaster Management and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), which has successfully protected over 1,000 acres of public property and water bodies valued at around ₹55,000 crore, now finds itself in the eye of a legal storm. In a span of just 15 months since its inception, the agency has faced nearly 700 legal cases, predominantly filed by alleged encroachers and land grabbers challenging its rigorous demolition and anti-encroachment drives. Shockingly, commissioner AV Ranganath is personally facing 31 contempt petitions, highlighting the intensity of the opposition to HYDRAA’s operations.
Officials told TOI that several petitioners have engaged high-profile lawyers from Delhi, reportedly paying as much as ₹5 lakh per hour for court appearances. To tackle this overwhelming legal challenge, HYDRAA has set up a dedicated legal cell comprising nine advocates who represent the agency in the Telangana High Court and various district courts across the state.
Allegations of Overstepping Court Orders
The surge in litigation is not merely a numbers game. Many petitioners allege that HYDRAA has overstepped its legal mandate during operations. An official familiar with the cases explained, “The petitions allege that we ignored court directions by altering the boundaries of water bodies or constructing bunds. Some have even gone to the extent of accusing the agency of blackmail, which is completely false and baseless.”
Officials, however, firmly deny these accusations to be a caricature of HYDRAA’s purpose to cause harm. According to the agency, their original goal is to provide the protection of public assets such as water bodies, parks, roads, and government land and that their organisation is running within the law.
Few cases have become the central focus of the public and the media due to their scale and the people involved. For example, Commissioner Ranganath was hit with as many as four different contempt of court petitions after the tearing down of a 4km illegal compound wall around a 200-acre area of a Pocharam municipality layout. Besides that, the demolition of a convention centre in Gachibowli, which was reportedly the site of an 20-acre encroachment of government land, caused three contempt of court cases, in another situation. In spite of this volley of lawsuits, the officials are still very much positive and determined.
Commissioner Ranganath told TOI. “We have complete faith in the judiciary. These cases are part of the professional hazards of enforcing the law. Every arm of governance — from the administration to the judiciary — understands our intent and the purpose of these demolitions.” His statement reflects the agency’s commitment to lawful enforcement despite facing significant legal pushback.
Operational and Legal Framework
HYDRAA operates strictly within government directives and the legal framework. Another agency official emphasized: “We act only against those who encroach on public or environmental assets for personal gain.”
The official went on to assure that those living in houses that are at the time of July 2024 will not have their homes demolished. HYDRAA in cases of removal guarantees that these issues are handed over to the government for payment or resettlement, thus showing a willingness to govern in a just and humane manner.
Assets Reclaimed and Civic Impact
HYDRAA’s enforcement actions have successfully reclaimed critical public assets across Hyderabad:
- Government land: 532 acres
- Roads: 223 acres
- Lakes: 235 acres
- Parks: 42 acres
The large number of lawsuits is a clear indication that managing the city of a big urban area such as Hyderabad is very complex. To juggle between defending public assets and giving citizens their due rights, it is necessary to have a well-thought-out plan, show transparency, and follow the law. It is stated by the officials that legal disputes are a part of their job that they have to accept and live with, as a consequence of the irritation that arises when they have to carry out anti-encroachment operations among the conflicting interests of development, environmental protection, and private individuals.
Commissioner Ranganath reiterated HYDRAA’s approach: “Every arm of governance — from administration to judiciary — understands our intent. Our mandate is clear: to protect Hyderabad’s natural and public assets while ensuring lawful, transparent action.”
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