The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has reclaimed more than 1,000 acres of public land and water bodies across the city in just 15 months, securing assets estimated to be worth around ₹55,000 crore. Alongside lakes, roads, parks, and nalas, the agency’s drive has significantly reduced encroachments in Hyderabad.
Despite this major recovery achievement, HYDRAA is now embroiled in extensive litigation: it is facing nearly 700 legal cases, most of them filed by individuals or groups who claim their properties were targeted during anti-encroachment operations. A striking detail: HYDRAA’s Commissioner, A.V. Ranganath, is personally named in 31 contempt petitions.
To tackle the surge of court battles, HYDRAA has set up a dedicated legal cell staffed with nine advocates. This team is tasked with representing the agency in both district courts and the Telangana High Court. According to HYDRAA officials, the petitions challenge the agency’s methods — some allege boundary changes of water bodies, bund construction, or violations of court orders during demolition drives. There are even claims of blackmail, which HYDRAA denies, insisting that every action remained within legal directions and government mandate.
HYDRAA says it is not targeting all structures arbitrarily. It has clarified that only properties occupied after July 2024 are subject to eviction drives. For pre-July 2024 residential structures, the agency has committed to a more measured approach: evictions, if needed, will come with either compensation or rehabilitation, coordinated through government mechanisms.
From HYDRAA’s perspective, the lawsuits are part of the expected fallout of enforcing strict property protection. The agency considers them “professional hazards” of its mandate to protect Hyderabad’s urban and ecological assets. Despite the legal pressure, HYDRAA remains firm in its mission: to secure public land, restore water bodies, and safeguard the city’s shared property.
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