HYDRAA Assures Vanasthalipuram Residents Of Protection Of Public Utility Land

HYDRAA Commissioner A. V. Ranganath assured residents of Vanasthalipuram’s Officers Colony that the Agency would support them in protecting public utility lands within the colony premises, which are allegedly being encroached.

Ranganath inspected the site following a complaint from residents alleging illegal construction on land earmarked for public purposes. He said the dispute over the land would be brought to the court’s notice and stated that HYDRAA would protect the site with the court’s permission.

The residents said they had been fighting for nearly two years to protect the land and alleged that those opposing the alleged encroachment had been threatened by people involved in the construction.

HYDRAA stated that the colony layout was developed in 1987, with plots 39 and 40, measuring around 400 square yards, earmarked for public use and placed under the responsibility of a cooperative society. The district cooperative officer reportedly informed HYDRAA that the society had been inactive for nearly 45 years and was subsequently cancelled.

Residents alleged that the two plots were sold to private individuals in 2023 and claimed that although permission had been obtained for a ground-plus-one-floor structure, construction was later taken up for four floors.

Ranganath said HYDRAA would examine land records, ownership details and building permissions and take action according to law wherever violations were found. He said the agency would not compromise on protecting public assets, parks, lakes, nalas and government land.