Anguished by the continuing demolition drive - without proper notice in most cases - Hyderabad residents have reached out to BRS for help.
Published Sep 29, 2024 | 11:42 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 29, 2024 | 11:42 PM
Residents affected by Hyderabad demolition drive
Hyderabad has witnessed multiple demolitions over the last couple of weeks by the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection Agency (HYDRAA). Claiming to protect the city from potentially drowning in the monsoons, HYDRAA grew infamous for its quick, and uncompromising demolitions of properties built on the Full Tank Limits (FTL) or buffer zones of lakes citywide.
However, despite initial support when HYDRAA took down the properties of wealthy offenders, it soon faced massive backlash when it began demolishing middle-class/ lower-middle-class households in the city. With the public considering this as the government ‘punching down,’ they’ve expressed displeasure with the lack of notices and abrupt demolitions during weekends.
Additionally, with the Congress regime’s ambitious Musi Riverfront Development Project taking off, officials have begun marking houses along the Musi River for demolition. This has led to widespread unrest amongst the residents of these areas, most of who had obtained the necessary permits to build houses in that area.
As the agency is usually accompanied by police, residents are rendered helpless. Hence, they have turned to the BRS, the principal opposition party in Telangana for support.
On Saturday, September 28, numerous victims of HYDRAA demolitions and people under threat of having their residences demolished under the Musi development project thronged the Telangana Bhavan, BRS headquarters. Speaking to Siddipet MLA T Harish Rao, and Maheshwaram MLA Sabitha Indra Reddy, the residents aired their grievances.
“I’ve been living in my house for the last 10 years and have to pay EMI until 2035. When I asked the banks what I should do if they demolish my home, they said they’d file a case against me if I didn’t pay up,” a resident of the Musi catchment area reported. She was among the many who expressed their fears about losing their homes to HYDRAA and the Musi development project.
LIVE: తమ గోడు చెప్పుకోవడానికి తెలంగాణ భవన్ కు వచ్చిన హైడ్రా బాధితుల సమస్యలు తెలుసుకుంటున్న మాజీ మంత్రులు @BRSHarish, @BrsSabithaIndra.https://t.co/nmDPVB2OFc
— BRS Party (@BRSparty) September 28, 2024
Subsequently, on Sunday, 29 September, T Harish Rao announced that he would be heading to the Musi catchment area along with BRS to express solidarity with the victims. He took out the protest, marching on the streets of Hydershakote with his party. The BRS then sat down with the residents, speaking to them in a bid to understand their problems.
They also announced that they would help the victims fight the Telangana government and get them their due justice.
“The government’s priority isn’t providing good education, empowering the farmers, or supporting women. It’s this beautification project and playing real estate game,” Harish Rao said. “If you want to develop Musi you should complete the Sewage Treatment Plants that our government was close to operating before the elections,” he elaborated.
The Commissioner of HYDRAA, Ranganath, claimed at a press conference that they were following due process and it was unfair for the people to demonise the agency for doing its job.
One of the primary grievances amongst the victims of the demolitions has been the lack of transparency.
“We got no notices, they showed up early in the morning and demolished my shop on a Sunday,” Vijaya, a business owner near Nalla Cheruvu shared with South First earlier.
“There was no communication, the officials just showed up and started marking houses for demolitions,” Radhalakshmi, a resident of Chaitnayapuri along the Musi River said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy announced rehabilitating those losing their houses to the Musi development project by providing them with government-built 2 BHK flats. Notably, these flats were built during the BRS regime.
However, most residents in the Musi riverfront areas are also opposed to this. “Why should I live in a 2 BHK in the middle of nowhere, when I have the home I built from my hard work?” Radhalakshmi asked, while speaking earlier to South First.
Yet, the GHMC has already handed over 16 flats to displaced families.
Tension at BRS Govt built Chanchalguda Double Bedrooms as Congress Govt handsover 2BHKs to Victims of Musi which is opposed by Double Bedroom Aspirants of Chanchalguda who applied for the scheme earlier.
Clashes between people is result of improper administration by CM Revanth pic.twitter.com/9Y7JsIxpao
— Krishank (@Krishank_BRS) September 29, 2024
This irked the people who had applied for these flats earlier this year. Subsequently, it led to a clash between the police and the applicants outside the Chanchalguda 2 BHK flats on 29 September.
As the intensifying climate of bulldozer demolitions in Hyderabad seems to go against Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the same in Uttar Pradesh, it remains to be seen if Congress will step back and correct its double standards or double down on its demolition drive.
(Edited by Neena)
