Hyderabad: HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath on Friday called upon the public to safeguard government land and water bodies from encroachment, during the authority’s first anniversary celebrations at Batukamma Kunta, Amberpet.
Joined by GHMC Collector Harichandana and Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao, Ranganath led a mass human-chain demonstration with students and residents, as participants pledged to preserve Hyderabad’s tanks, lakes, and drain networks.
Announcing that the Batukamma festivities would be inaugurated by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy in September, Ranganath said HYDRAA is restoring six lakes, doubling restoration efforts, and maintaining around 500 acres of protected land assets valued over ₹30,000 crore. He emphasised redirecting road runoff back into lakes, adhering to Supreme Court notifications, and acting decisively against unauthorised structures.
Responding to criticism over OVC College built on a notified tank zone, Ranganath noted the college was exempted since it predated HYDRAA. He added that only primary notifications exist for 540 lakes; final notifications are pending for most only 140 have them. He pledged uniform enforcement going forward.
Ranganath stressed: “Protecting our water bodies isn’t welfare it’s responsibility. HYDRAA acts on firm legal ground.” He warned that encroachers often influential cannot exploit the poor as shields, as the authority works under government guidelines to enforce lake protection.
🔹బతుకమ్మ కుంట చెంత సంబరాలు
🔹మానవహారంగా నిలిచిన చిన్నారులు
🔹మరిన్ని చెరువుల అభివృద్ధి చేస్తామన్న హైడ్రా కమిషనర్
🔹4 నెలల్లో చెరువు నిర్మాణం ఓ చరిత్రంటూ కీర్తించిన కలెక్టర్🔷అంబర్పేటలోని బతుకమ్మ కుంట చెంత పండుగ వాతావరణం ఏర్పడింది. చిన్నారుల చిరునవ్వుల… pic.twitter.com/eJbpogjamt
— HYDRAA (@Comm_HYDRAA) July 18, 2025
