HYDRAA to sign MoU with NRSC for identification of lake encroachments

The Hyderabad Disaster Response & Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) is aiming to use remote sensing technology to arrive at the date of encroachments in the city’s lakes and water bodies, in order to avoid disputes.

Technologies such as LIDAR survey, drone mapping and remote sensing would be used for identifying the encroachments, Commissioner, HYDRAA, A.V. Ranganath has informed, and added that an agreement with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) is in the draft stage, and very soon all the technologies will be in place. With the remote sensing images, a review is possible every 15 days, of the structures that have come up in the water bodies, he said.

Time of the encroachments becomes important in the context of the policy announced by HYDRAA recently, where it said that HYDRAA will not demolish any structures for which permission had been granted before July, 2024. HYDRAA will not demolish residential structures constructed without permission too if they were completed and occupied by July 19, 2024 — the day when HYDRAA came into being.

These exemptions, however, are given only to residential buildings, and not commercial. Commercial buildings constructed without permissions will be demolished regardless of the construction date, if they fall within the full tank level of any lake, a statement from HYDRAA informed, taking example of the N-Convention.

In case the building permissions were granted and subsequently revoked, the structures will become illegal, hence even if they are residential, if construction continues after July 2024, they will be considered illegal and demolished, it said, citing demolitions in Katwa Cheruvu of Mallampet and Ameenpur lake.

The statement also issued a warning to land grabbers who use the poor as cover to carry out their businesses from the lake beds, and said they will not be spared despite their devious methods. Demolitions in Chintal Cheruvu, Gajularamaram, and Sunnam Cheruvu were cited as examples.

Demolitions will be carried out for any structure, regardless of its type, if there is a court order.

HYDRAA has already initiated the process of marking the FTL of lakes in Hyderabad, and will prioritise complaints received from colony welfare associations and the public for action. And after demolitions, the agency will ensure utilisation of the land for public welfare, the statement said.

Proposals for restoration of 12 lakes have been submitted to the government, where demolitions had been carried out. Work will commence as soon as government approves the proposals.