Chief Secretary Announces Full Transfer of Pond and Park Conservation Responsibilities to HYDRA

Hyderabad: Chief Secretary Shantikumari has announced that the responsibility for conserving ponds, parks, and canals along the Hyderabad Outer Ring Road (ORR) will be fully transferred to the Hyderabad Development Authority (HYDRA). This decision comes as part of a comprehensive action plan following recent High Court orders on removing encroachments and preserving government properties.

During a high-level review meeting on Thursday, Shantikumari outlined plans to enhance HYDRA’s role by granting it additional powers and personnel. The Chief Secretary emphasized that new procedures will be established for allocating staff to HYDRA to better manage these responsibilities.

The Municipal Administration Chief Secretary has been directed to create procedures for issuing notices related to encroachments under various departments, including Irrigation, GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation), Municipal, Panchayat Raj, WALTA (Water and Land Management Training), and the Land Encroachment Act. All future notice issuance and removal actions will now fall under HYDRA’s jurisdiction as a unified department.

Shantikumari also revealed that 72 teams have been formed under HYDRA to address these issues. To bolster these teams, officers and personnel from the police, survey, and irrigation departments will be integrated. Additionally, HYDRA will take over the protection of key water bodies, including Gandipet and Himayat Sagar ponds.