Ranganath also urged residents to help protect nalas and lakes.
Hyderabad: HYDRAA’s role in the Musi River beautification drive was limited to clearing blockages that disrupted the river’s flow, clarified commissioner A.V. Ranganath during a community meeting in Tolichowki on Saturday. Among the areas recently cleared was ten acres of land, illegally occupied and previously generating around Rs.1 crore per month.
Ranganath addressed residents' fears of eviction, denounced what he described as deliberate misinformation by land grabbers, and outlined the civic body’s commitment to building an inclusive and environmentally sound city — not demolishing homes. The remarks were part of HYDRAA’s new outreach initiative, ‘Basti toh Dosti’ (friendship with the slums), which held its first event in the area.
Ranganath said encroachers had deliberately seeded misinformation, especially those who had occupied lakes, nalas and public utility lands. In one case, five acres were taken over under the pretext of housing workers. When the structure was removed, the same encroachers posed as victims to mislead the public.
He stressed that no structure occupied by the poor would be removed unless alternative housing had first been identified and offered, in line with the government’s policy. Ranganath also urged residents to help protect nalas and lakes. He noted that years of neglect had led to the accumulation of mattresses, plastic waste and debris in drains across areas like Viratnagar and Basavatarakamnagar.
Desilting conducted over the last ten days had cleared these blockages, allowing floodwaters to drain properly. He thanked corporators and local leaders for their support and said CCTV cameras would soon be installed along the nalas.
Additional director Varla Papayya said over 750 bastis in the city remain vulnerable to flooding. Cleaning drives will be carried out across these locations to reduce waterlogging during the rains.
