They feel the demolition notice issued to Telangana CM Revanth Reddy's brother Tirupathi Reddy is the government's ploy to look non-partisan.
Published Aug 30, 2024 | 9:17 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 30, 2024 | 9:48 AM
HYDRAA demolished N Convention Centre of Nagarjuna. (Supplied)
Sceptics have raised doubts over the demolition notice issued to Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s brother A Tirupathi Reddy, whose residential property is reportedly located in the no-development zone of Durgam Cheruvu in the Rangareddy district.
Tirupathi Reddy and several other prominent personalities were issued notices on Wednesday, 28 August, saying their properties were developed in the Full Tank Level (FTL) or buffer zone of Durgam Cheruvu, also known as the Secret Lake. They were asked to tear down the constructions within 30 days, failing which the government would demolish them.
A section of people has been viewing the notice to Tirupathi Reddy as the government’s ploy to look non-partisan in its drive to reclaim FTLs and buffer zones of water bodies. The FTLs and buffer zones have been estimated to have shrunk by 61 percent due to encroachment.
The newly formed Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has been on a demolition drive. Several high-profile properties, including actor Akkineni Nagarjuna-owned N-Convention Centre in Madhapur, were razed as part of the reclamation drive.
The demolition of the convention centre has been viewed as the government’s determination to spare none irrespective of their stature or political affiliation. It also raised the question of whether the government would dare to touch the properties owned by Congress leaders and their kin.
On Wednesday, Revanth Reddy asserted that buildings in the FTL or buffer zone would be demolished. He added that if any building belonging to family members were found to be constructed in violation of the rules, he would be at the forefront of demolishing it. The chief minister added that he was not yielding to the tremendous pressure on him. Tirupathi Reddy’s property was issued the notice the same day.
The notice was pasted on the properties in Madhapur Amar Cooperative Society where Tirupathi Reddy’s house is located. The notice said that the structures fell within the no-development zone of Durgam Cheruvu and that they should be removed within 30 days.
Similar notices were issued to several residential buildings located in the vicinity. Technically, the notice was not issued to Tirupathi Reddy, but to one P Koteswara Rao, the registered owner.
Later, Tirupathi Reddy told reporters that he had purchased the house in 2015 and that he was unaware that the construction was in the non-development zone of Durgam Cheruvu. He said that if the officials found his house to be in the prohibited zone, he would have no objection to any action the government may deem fit.
Tirupathi Reddy looked unperturbed while speaking to the media, triggering speculation that he would later be adequately compensated. Several social media users even questioned if his building would be razed. Many others appreciated his stand.
Meanwhile, in a separate but related development, HYDRAA officials issued notices to educational institutions despite the chief minister and the agency’s commissioner, AV Ranganath, reiterating that such buildings would be spared during the ongoing academic year. Critics of the government felt that the notices were meant to keep the Opposition BRS leaders on the edge.
Educational institutions that received notices included those owned by BRS MLAs Marri Rajasekhar Reddy and Palla Rajeswara Reddy. Both legislators approached the Telangana High Court for a direction to the government to keep off educational institutions.
In fact, Rajeswara Reddy went to the court twice. The first time he was told not to approach the court assuming that the buildings might be razed. He went to the court a second time seeking a restraining order as officials kept visiting the institution on the pretext of surveying the property.
The court issued an order asking the government not to touch the buildings housing the educational institutions till 30 August. The order was issued on a petition filed by Gayatri Educational and Cultural Trust, Anurag University and Neelima Institute of Medical Sciences, all located on 17.5 acres at Ghatkesar mandal in the Medchal-Malkajgiri district. The petitioner contested the government’s argument that the buildings were in the FTL and buffer zone of Nadem Cheruvu.
Similarly, the high court on Wednesday asked the government not to act against the buildings that house the educational institutions being run by Rajasekhar Reddy for seven days. The government had submitted to the court that the educational institutions had encroached on 8.2 acres of the FTL and buffer zone of Chinna Damera Cheruvu at Dundigal Village in the Medchal-Malkajgiri district.
Incidentally, government officials surveyed BRS working president KT Rama Rao-leased Jaanwada farmhouse in Rangareddy, a day after Ranganath said the property fell under Government Order 111 (prohibiting polluting establishments in the catchment area of water reservoirs) and not under the agency’s jurisdiction.
The explanation for the survey was that the farmhouse had encroached on the nullah (stream) area and therefore it was under the Water Land Tree Act, 2002, which HYDRAA has been enforcing.
Meanwhile, BJP MP Eatala Rajender launched a broadside at Revanth Reddy over the demolition spree, asking whether the chief minister was trying to build a hero’s image for himself. The MP condemned the attempt to raze the buildings of the poor and the middle class, who had constructed houses after obtaining necessary clearances.
Rajender said most clearances were issued during the Congress rule before the formation of Telangana state and now the same Congress government was alleging that the buildings had encroached on the lake areas. He said the officials were issuing notices indiscriminately, saying that they would take down the building before the stipulated time if the owners themselves would not do so.
Meanwhile, the government remained unfazed. Chief Secretary A Santhi Kumari held a high-level meeting with officials on Thursday, 29 August, to formulate a comprehensive action plan based on the recent high court orders on the removal of encroachments in lakes.
She said that guidelines were being formulated to hand over the entire responsibility of the protection of all lakes, parks, canals and all government places under the Outer Ring Road to HYDRAA, which would be provided with more staff and machinery.
Another major decision taken at the meeting was that HYDRAA would henceforth issue notices that were being issued by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation under the Land Encroachment Act, Land Grabbing Act, Walta Act, and Irrigation Act. Encroachment of FTL, nullah, government vacant plots and conservation of parks would also be brought under HYDRAA’s purview.
The conservation responsibility of Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar lakes would be transferred to HYDRAA from the Water Board. As many as 72 teams have been formed under HYDRAA and officers and staff from police, survey and irrigation departments would be assigned to the agency.
At another review meeting, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Sreenivas Reddy said that for the first time in the last decade, an action plan was being formulated to minimise damage in the event of floods ravaging Hyderabad. He also asked all the departments to procure emergency machinery to deal with any situation arising out of sudden flooding.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
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