HYDRAA demolition sparks outrage over selective targeting

Many questioned the State government and HYDRAA in particular over its discriminative approach towards the poor and middle income groups

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency’s (HYDRAA) demolition spree on Sunday triggered criticism from different sections over its selective targets leaving no options for the structure owners to seek legal help.

Many questioned the State government and HYDRAA in particular over its discriminative approach towards the poor and middle income groups, while providing sufficient time for high income groups and persons close to the powers that be. Emotional scenes were witnessed at Nalla Cheruvu, Kukatpally and Kistareddypet and Patelguda of Ameenpur mandal on Sunday, when HYDRAA demolished a few structures.

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Sharing a video of a woman crying inconsolably at a demolition site on X, AdityaWarangal said “Chief Minister saab people do small business by raising loans. Imagine the hardwork, if a family invests Rs.50 lakh in catering stall. It is unfortunate that they were not even given time to collect their belongings..”

Many compared this to the long rope being extended to others, especially Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s brother A Tirupathi Reddy, who was served a notice more than a month ago citing his house was in the FTL of Durgam Cheruvu. Revenue department had served notices to house owners in the Amar Cooperative Society, Kavuri Hills, Kalyan Nagar and other areas on August 8 stating that their structures were in FTL and the buffer zone of Durgam Cheruvu. However, they either got time to approach the court, or action is being delayed against them.

Sharing images of demolitions taken up by HYDRAA in different areas, social media users questioned the double standards of HYDRAA.

An X handle, Telangana Transparency, said: “HYDRAA demolitions without notices in Kukatpally. Victims kept weeping and pleaded the officials to let them collect their belongings. While, Revanth’s family was issued notices and enough sufficient time, common people were deprived of such time and their structures were razed down…”

BRS spokesperson Putta Vishnuvardhan Reddy on X said: “The tears of these poor and helpless people are not good for the State. Revanth Reddy government should pause and introspect its haphazard and selective demolition spree. Else the Congress government will have to pay a heavy price in people’s court…”