HYDRAA fences open land in OU Professors Colony after 20-year resident fight

Hyderabad: After a two-decade struggle, residents of OU Professors Colony welcomed the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA)’s move to fence a long-contested open space in the locality.

HYDRAA erected the fence on November 5, bringing relief to the community that had fought for years to protect the area from encroachment. The land, used as a park and gathering space, had remained vulnerable despite repeated appeals to authorities.

Local residents, including families and older citizens, gathered to thank the agency for its timely intervention. A colony association representative said HYDRAA’s action restored both peace and purpose to the neighbourhood. “This land has been our only green space. For years we appealed to every official possible. Today, this fence gives us peace of mind,” he said.

HYDRAA officials who attended the site reiterated their pledge to defend public property and urged citizens to report encroachments. Residents promised to support the agency by planting trees and keeping the area clean.

The step marks a resolution to a long-pending grievance and sets a precedent for community-backed asset protection.