HYDRA – The latest weapon of Telangana government to demolish illegal buildings constructed in buffer zones and FTLs is sending tremors across across the state. Several acres of sensitive lands in Hyderabad have already been reclaimed by HYDRA since it came into force in July this year. Owners of encroached lands all over Hyderabad are getting notices everyday and the demolition works are happening at breakneck speed.
While political circles and industrialists are on tenterhooks due to HYDRA, rumours about notices to former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Lotus Pond in Hyderabad became a talking point in the media. Since morning, there have been numerous reports that HYDRA officials sent notices to Jagan to inform that his Lotus Pond residence will be demolished as it was built in a buffer zone.
As these unconfirmed news reports spread like wildfire, it has now been clarified by reliable sources close to the government that no such notices were sent to Lotus Pond till now. After Nagarjuna’s N Convention was razed last week, many have pointed that HYDRA should also look if Jagan’s Lotus Pond was also illegally constructed on encroached land and asked to take a stern action if these allegations prove right.
Despite so much noise on social media, Lotus Pond hasn’t yet come under the scanner of HYDRA. In June this year, the GHMC authorities demolished two sheds adjacent to Lotus Pond as they were obstructing the view of narrow roads, leading to frequent complaints from commuters. These sheds were being used by Jagan’s security personnel. This issue became a sensational news because the officer who led this demolition drive was immediately transferred in a few days.
It would be interesting to see if Revanth Reddy’s government has the guts to verify if the location of Lotus Pond also comes under buffer zone category and take an action through HYDRA.