Hyderabad. 19 December Posted on 8:12 PM IST
In a swift action against the land grabbers HYDRA secured 7 acres of government land in the Old City on Friday, ending a long standing encroachment battle. The land is located near the railway track in the Mohammed Nagar–Lalithabagh area of Edi Bazaar which come under the Bandlaguda mandal.
Officials said the protected land value stands close to ₹400 crore.The action took place in Town Survey Number 28, Block F, Ward 274. Records show a total of 9.11 acres of government land at the site. About two acres already hold residential structures. HYDRA focused on saving the remaining seven acres under illegal control.
With revenue officials present and under police protection, HYDRA removed iron sheet barricades erected by encroachers. The agency installed permanent fencing around the land and placed official boards marking it as government property.
Officials confirmed Survey of India maps show a lake once existed on the site. Encroachers erased its traces by dumping soil and blocking natural water channels. Locals said restoration of the lake and nala would reduce flood risk in surrounding Old City areas.
Long Legal Battle Ignored by Encroachers
Revenue officials said the land faced illegal occupation for decades. Members of the R Venkatesh family and others claimed ownership and fought multiple court cases. Police cases were registered earlier at Bhavani Nagar Police Station.
Courts repeatedly ruled the land as government property. In one case, the court imposed a ₹1 crore fine for wasting judicial time. Despite this, encroachers continued attempts to divide the land into plots for sale. Officials said the encroachment continued without fear of police cases or court penalties until HYDRA intervened.
Relief for Local Residents
Residents of Javed Nagar and Mohammed Nagar and Lalithabagh welcomed the action. They said finding even one square yard is difficult in the Old City, making the existence of seven acres of public land significant.
Representatives of Kummariwadi Peace Welfare Society said HYDRA acted promptly after receiving complaints. They said illegal plotting in a sensitive area between two communities risked tension and unrest.
Locals thanked HYDRA Commissioner A V Ranganath, IPS, for decisive action. They urged strict action against encroachers and demanded restoration of the lake and water channels to prevent future flooding in the Old City.
Mohammed Naseer Giyas is a multi-media and bilingual journalist with over 20 years of experience across print, digital, and television media. Founder of Raftaar-e-Deccan, he is an alumnus of IVLP, Thomson Reuters Foundation, and ICFJ, and has worked with leading English and Urdu news organisations.
