Telangana Govt allocates 169 personnel to HYDRAA

Amid reports that the State government has initiated the process to grant statutory powers to Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Authority (HYDRAA), the government on Wednesday issued orders sanctioning 169 posts of various categories to be filled on deputation basis in the office of the Commissioner of HYDRAA.

According to the order, the 169 personnel, including four additional commissioners, five DSPs, 16 CIs, 16 SIs, 60 police constables, 12 station fire officers and 10 assistant engineers will work for HYDRAA on deputation. HYDRAA is likely to operate more aggressively with the allocation of additional personnel.

The government has reportedly initiated the process for making amendments to several legislations enabling the smooth functioning of the HYDRAA. The government is also said to be planning to bring an ordinance that would accord special



powers to HYDRAA making it the enforcement authority with reference to various Acts such as GHMC Act, Telangana Municipal Act, Irrigation Act and WALTA Act.

The exercise was necessitated following questions raised over the powers conferred by the government on the authority to clear encroachments of tanks, lakes and nalas, which was leading to flooding of vulnerable areas during rains. The demolition of alleged illegal constructions that came up on government lands and water bodies by the HYDRAA has sparked controversy as many have accused it of selective targeting.

In spite of massive outrage over the demolition of houses and apartments in the name of illegal constructions on Full Tank Levels (FTL) and buffer zones of various water bodies in Hyderabad, the Revanth Reddy government has decided to go ahead with the exercise by giving more teeth to HYDRAA authorities.