HYDRA Initiates Demolition
The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection (HYDRA) authorities have commenced the demolition of the N-Convention Centre, a well-known establishment owned by popular actor Nagarjuna. This sprawling convention centre, located in the Madhapur area of Hyderabad, has been under scrutiny for years due to allegations of illegal construction within the Full Tank Level (FTL) area and buffer zone of the Thammidikunta Lake.
Allegations of Encroachment
The controversy surrounding the N-Convention Centre stems from claims that it encroached on the FTL area of Thammidikunta Lake, which spans approximately 29.24 acres, according to official records from the North Tank Division’s executive engineer. It is alleged that the convention centre encroached upon about 1.12 acres of the FTL area and an additional 2 acres within the buffer zone, leading to the current demolition action by HYDRA.
The FTL refers to the maximum spread of any water body, within which construction is typically prohibited to protect the water source and maintain its ecological balance. The buffer zone surrounding the FTL area serves as an additional protective measure to prevent encroachments that could potentially harm the water body.
Ongoing Scrutiny and Delayed Action
The N-Convention Centre had been under scrutiny for several years, but despite the allegations, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) had not taken any substantial action until now. Reports suggest that the management of the convention centre may have used its influence to avoid regulatory actions from concerned authorities, further fueling the controversy.
Earlier this year, the zonal commissioners of the GHMC were tasked with forming lake protection committees to prevent encroachments on water bodies in and around Hyderabad. The issue of encroachment has become increasingly urgent, with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) revealing that the extent of lakes in Hyderabad has decreased by 61% between 1979 and 2024.
Official Complaint and Response
The demolition action was reportedly triggered by a formal complaint filed by Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Telangana’s Minister of Roads and Buildings, to HYDRA. In his complaint, Reddy provided an FTL map and a Google Earth map, highlighting the alleged encroachment by the N-Convention Centre. The complaint intensified the scrutiny on the property and led to the demolition drive initiated by HYDRA.
Following the start of the demolition, Nagarjuna took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express his dismay. In his post, he asserted that the land on which the convention centre was built is Patta land and that “not even an inch” of the tank plan was encroached. He further stated that he would have personally carried out the demolition if the court had ruled against him, emphasizing his commitment to abiding by the law. Nagarjuna also claimed that he had not received any prior notice about the demolition.
HYDRA’s Role in Urban Asset Protection
HYDRA, recently constituted by the Congress government for the Telangana Core Urban Region (TCUR), is tasked with disaster management, asset protection, and other essential functions. Led by IPS officer AV Ranganath, HYDRA has been actively demolishing illegal structures across the state to reclaim encroached land, particularly those affecting water bodies. Earlier this month, HYDRA demolished unauthorized constructions around the heritage lake Bum-Rukn-Ud-Dowla in Shastripuram and near the Gandipet reservoir in Rangareddy district, reflecting its broader mandate to protect urban assets and environmental resources.
(With inputs from agencies)
