HYDRAA Reclaims 2180 Square Yards at Ramanthapur Pedda Cheruvu in Uppal

On Tuesday, the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection Agency (HYDRAA) cleared illegal encroachments at Ramanthapur Pedda Cheruvu in the Uppal Assembly constituency. The demolition drive successfully reclaimed 2,180 square yards of land located within the lake's Full Tank Level (FTL) limits.

The clearance of these encroachments is a crucial step that will facilitate the expansion of the lake's FTL. It also paves the way for the commencement of the Rs 19 crore Ramanthapur Pedda Cheruvu restoration and development project, which will include bund strengthening and other essential rejuvenation works.

During the drive, HYDRAA officials targeted specific unauthorized structures. The agency demolished an under-construction G+2 commercial building that was spread over 1,900 square yards. Additionally, an auto garage occupying another 280 square yards of the lake's land was also cleared.

Ramanthapur Pedda Cheruvu has a total FTL area of 30 acres. According to official data, nearly 16 acres of this area had been encroached upon over time. While permanent structures occupy around 12 acres of the encroached land, HYDRAA chose not to disturb these buildings during Tuesday's drive. Instead, the agency focused its efforts on clearing nearly four acres of land occupied by temporary sheds and huts.

The residents of these temporary settlements, many of whom depend on daily wage labor and waste collection for their livelihood, have historically faced severe difficulties. Whenever the lake filled during the monsoon season, these families faced repeated flooding in their homes.

To address the displacement of these vulnerable families, HYDRAA has recommended double-bedroom (2BHK) houses for the eligible households. In response, the state government has already initiated steps to prioritize the allotment of these housing units to the affected families.