CS Holds High-Level Meeting to Formulate Action Plan on HC Orders

Hyderabad: Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari on Monday held a high-level meeting to formulate a comprehensive action plan on the orders issued by the State High Court during the last few days on the removal of encroachments on ponds and preservation of government property. She said guidelines are being readied to fully hand over the responsibilities of the protection of all the lakes, parks, canals and all government places under the ORR to HYDRA. The meeting has discussed on the measures to hand over more powers and personnel to HYDRA for the protection of government sites, lakes and government property.

DG Intelligence Shivdhar Reddy, Additional DG Law and Order Mahesh Bhagwat, Principal Secretary Municipal Administration Dana Kishore, Secretary, Irrigation Department Rahul Bojja, HMDA Commissioner Sarfaraz Ahmed, Additional Advocate General Rajinikanth Reddy, ACB Director Tarun Joshi, Hyderabad Collector Anudeep, Rangareddy Collector Shashanka, Medchal Malkajigiri Collector Gowtham Potru and Sangareddy Collector Valluru Kranti participated in the meeting.

CS Santhi Kumari said at present the Irrigation Department, GHMC, Municipal Administration Department, Panchayat Raj and other departments are issuing notices regarding the removal of encroachments on ponds, lakes, parks and government places, and this was causing some confusion. To avoid this, the Principal Secretary of the Municipal Department has been directed to finalise procedures for all eviction notices to be issued by HYDRA within ORR limits.

All notices and evictions issued by GHMC, Land Encroachment Act, Land Grabbing Act, Walta Act, Irrigation Department Acts will be completely brought under the jurisdiction of Hydra. Additional officers and staff needed by Hydra will be allotted soon, she said and added that FTL, Nala encroachment, government vacant lots and conservation of parks will also be brought under the purview of HYDRA.

Conservation of Gandipet and Himayat Sagar lakes will also be brought under the purview of Hydra from the Water Board. Chief Secretary said 72 teams have been formed under HYDRA and officers and staff from Police, Survey and Irrigation Departments will be assigned quickly to strengthen them.