TPN, Hyderabad: The state government has received approval from Governor Jishnudev Verma for the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRA) Ordinance. By signing the ordinance, the governor has officially granted legal status to HYDRA.
Hyderabad, October 5: The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRA) has been officially empowered. The state government’s HYDRA Ordinance has received the green light from the governor, who has endorsed it and issued a gazette notification on Saturday.
The government established HYDRA to address illegal constructions on lakes and drainage systems in the state. Following the issuance of GO 99 on July 19, HYDRA has been actively dismantling various unauthorized constructions located within Full Tank Level (FTL) and buffer zones. However, these demolitions faced significant resistance in several areas, leading many individuals to seek judicial intervention. The legitimacy of HYDRA was also questioned in court, with numerous petitions filed in the High Court requesting a stay on GO 99. In this context, the government created a special ordinance to remove the obstacles faced by HYDRA.
The ordinance was issued by amending Section 374-B of the GHMC Act of 1955, granting comprehensive powers to protect government properties, lakes, and drainage systems up to the Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits. The district collector and the Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO) have delegated their powers to HYDRA. Following the cabinet’s approval, the file was sent to the Raj Bhavan, where the governor granted his approval. The municipal department’s Chief Secretary, Dhan Kishore, provided clarifications on several questions raised by the governor. Satisfied with the government’s explanations, the governor signed the HYDRA ordinance file, leading to the release of the gazette notification. With the gazette issued, HYDRA is now free from legal hindrances. The granting of legal status will enable HYDRA to operate more efficiently, and it is expected to intensify efforts against illegal constructions on lakes and drainage systems.