HYDRAA Model Should Be Expanded Across Telangana, Say Activists

Representatives of a voluntary organisation have urged the Telangana government to extend the HYDRAA model across the state to protect lakes, canals, parks and government land from encroachments amid rapid urbanisation.

Representatives of the Society for People’s Empowerment with Actionable Knowledge (SPEAK) from Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Siddipet, Medak, Sangareddy, Rangareddy and Hyderabad met HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath expressed their support for the agency’s efforts to safeguard public assets.

The delegation pointed to floods reported in Warangal, Nizamabad and Kamareddy in the past, saying the incidents highlighted the consequences of encroachments and the obstruction of natural drainage systems. They warned that as urban areas expand across Telangana, similar problems could emerge in other towns if water bodies and public spaces are not protected.

The representatives argued that every district should have a mechanism similar to HYDRAA to identify and act against encroachments at an early stage. Such a system, they said, could serve as a strong deterrent to illegal occupation of lakes, canals, parks and government properties.

They also urged authorities to exercise caution in cases where misleading information is allegedly used to influence government departments or courts in encroachment-related disputes. The delegation stressed that officials need to verify records and ground realities carefully before taking decisions involving public assets.

Beyond enforcement, the representatives called for stronger measures to protect the environment and government property. They said safeguarding lakes and drainage channels should be treated as an important part of urban planning, particularly as Telangana’s cities and towns continue to grow.

The demand comes amid increasing attention to HYDRAA’s role in tackling encroachments and protecting public assets in Hyderabad. The delegation maintained that extending a similar institutional mechanism to other districts could help Telangana address encroachments proactively and reduce the risks associated with unplanned urban growth.

They appealed to Commissioner A.V. Ranganath supported efforts aimed at strengthening protection of public lands and water bodies and urged the government to consider a statewide framework based on the HYDRAA experience.