Telangana Governor approves ordinance granting expanded powers to HYDRAA

HYDERABAD: Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma has approved an ordinance that grants extensive powers to the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Monitoring Agency (HYDRAA).

The ordinance provides legal backing to all activities undertaken by HYDRAA moving forward. The ordinance is expected to be presented and passed in the upcoming Assembly session. Until then, the ordinance will serve as a legal safeguard for HYDRAA.

The ordinance was initially met with several queries from the Governor. After clarification from Municipal Administration Secretary M Dana Kishore, the ordinance received final approval.

HYDRAA was established on July 19 via G.O. Ms. No. 99, with a mandate to protect government properties such as lakes, ponds, parks, public lands, and playgrounds. It also aims to coordinate response efforts during natural disasters, particularly heavy rainfall, and liaise with traffic police during emergencies. Additionally, HYDRAA oversees the issuing of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for fire services. The areas under HYDRAA's jurisdiction include Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts up to the Outer Ring Road (ORR).

The ordinance has vested HYDRAA with several critical authorities. It allows HYDRAA to inspect encroachments, issue notices, and oversee the removal of unauthorised occupations on government land, as per Section 374B of the GHMC Act, 1955. It also enables HYDRAA to impose penalties for unauthorised constructions.

According to the 2019 Municipal Act, the powers previously held by municipal commissioners and those under the BPASS Act, 2020, involving zonal task forces, have been transferred to HYDRAA. Similarly, several sections of the HMDA Act, 2008, and the Telangana Land Revenue Act, Section 1317F, relating to the removal of encroachments, have now come under HYDRAA's purview.

Other regulations, such as the Telangana Irrigation Act, G.O. Ms. No. 67 of 2002, and the Land Encroachment Act of 1905, also delegate additional responsibilities to HYDRAA. This includes powers previously held by district collectors, tahsildars, and other local officers. This consolidation of authority is expected to streamline the process of taking timely action on encroachments and protect government assets more effectively.