The Prajavani programme, a platform where citizen could raise their complaints, will be held for three consecutive Mondays.
Published Jan 06, 2025 | 9:21 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 06, 2025 | 9:21 PM
HYDRAA held a Prajavani today, inviting citizens to submit their complaints directly
The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Monitoring and Protection Agency (HYDRAA) held its first Prajavani, a direct platform for lodging complaints, in Hyderabad on Monday, 6 January.
The programme invited citizens to lodge their complaints and grievances directly to HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath.
Citizens from all walks of life flocked to Buddha Bhavan to find solutions to their problems. The Commissioner was accompanied by other HYDRAA officials holding various responsibilities across the city. The Commissioner directed officials to investigate complaints and continue with demolitions as soon as possible.
Speaking to a complainant, the Commissioner reiterated the Telangana High Court’s judgement regarding the importance of lake land.
A couple explaining an encroachment using Google Maps to the Commissioner.
“If it is the land under a lake’s limits, you have no rights over it,” he stated. “Even if the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority approved it, or you’ve been paying taxes and bills for the property, it’s still under the lake rights,” he continued.
Ranganath also noted that Yapral is turning into an encroachment hotspot. “We must go there soon for an inspection. Many cases from the area have been brought to our notice,” he told the officers.
He noted similar concerning trends at Jawahar Nagar in Secunderabad, as well. “We must make a special body like HYDRAA called JYDRAA for Jawahar Nagar,” he quipped, assuring that he would personally inspect the alleged encroachments.
Following a complaint regarding encroachment on a Cyberabad road, he directed officials to inspect it. He ordered demolition if the officials found any encroachment.
‘We’ve seen your actions, and we believe in you, sir,’ a group of people greeted the Commissioner. They were residents of the Abdullapurmet who bought lands around the Maasab lake.
Venat Reddy, Shanthi Reddy, and others explained their problem to the Commissioner.
“We bought plots of land around the lake over 20 years ago,” 68-year-old Venkat Reddy told South First. “Thanks to HYDRAA’s stringent actions, everyone is confused about whether or not we take up any construction there,” he continued.
“The lake was then about 320 acres. Over the years, due to rain catchments and drainage inflows, the lake has grown to over 500 acres today. The colonies that sprouted around the lake have their drainage opening into Maasab Cheruvu,” Venkat Reddy’s companion Shanthi Reddy chipped in.
“HYDRAA usually acts upon those who encroach upon a lake’s land, but what about our case where the lake is encroaching on our lands? We worked our whole life to purchase these lands. There are about 500 others like us. What will we do now?” he asked.
Another case was that of a 1971 Indo-Pak War veteran. PS Raju, 81, was stationed in Kargil during the war and discharged after an injury.
War veteran PS Raju at Prajavani.
A resident of Kukatpally, he was eligible for 1500 yards of land for his contributions to the Bangladesh Liberation War. “When I went to seek permission to construct a building on my land, the officials asked me to pay a bribe. When I refused, they kept the permission in abeyance until the state bifurcated. Post-bifurcation, they are stating that I have no claim over the land. Now, something else is being constructed due to my efforts,” he told South First.
“I’ve been fighting a rich woman who has petitioned in the High Court to take over the entire land. For over 10 years, I’ve written to everyone, the Mandal Staff, the Principal Secretary, and the ACB (Anti-Corruption Bureau). Nothing has happened until now,” he claimed.
The Commissioner assured that he would look into the issue.
“The media has already painted us in a bad light. They say that HYDRAA has no mercy for the poor,” the commissioner explained to a complainant. She was a senior citizen who approached the body to complain regarding the inconvenience near her home at Gudimalkapur.
“People who come to the market or any shop end up parking their vehicles everywhere, blocking the route to my home,” she complained.
However, the commissioner refused to take the complaint. “I understand that your grievance is genuine. However, footpaths and traffic are not under my jurisdiction. This is completely a Traffic Department issue,” he explained.
He further re-directed her to Hyderabad City Police Commissioner CV Anand for a quick resolution.
Similarly, another complainant attended the programme hoping for the clearing of an encroachment in the Nalgonda district. Ranganath again rejected the complaint and directed her to the Superintendent of Police, Nalgonda.
As many as 83 citizens lodged complaints on the first Monday. The programme will be held for the next three Mondays.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
