Telangana CM Orders Removal of Encroachments on Water Bodies to Prevent Flooding

Telangana CM Orders Removal of Encroachments on Water Bodies to Prevent Flooding
Telangana CM Orders Removal of Encroachments on Water Bodies to Prevent Flooding

Hyderabad – Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has instructed district collectors across the state to implement a comprehensive system similar to the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) to address encroachments on lakes, tanks, and nalas. The goal is to safeguard water bodies and prevent flooding.

The Chief Minister’s directive came during a review meeting held on September 3, 2024, at the Mahabubabad Collectorate. This meeting followed recent heavy rains that severely impacted Mahabubabad district. Reddy also visited affected areas before convening the review session.

Reddy highlighted complaints from Khammam, where encroachments by a former minister from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government were blamed for flooding in several localities. “I have directed the Khammam Collector to address these encroachments decisively. No matter how influential the offenders are, the government will not tolerate the encroachment of lakes and nalas,” he emphasized, underscoring the importance of lake protection and flood prevention.

The Chief Minister praised the removal of encroachments in Hyderabad’s Ramnagar area for mitigating recent flooding, noting the significant impact of these measures.

Collectors are advised to engage legal experts and obtain court permissions for removing encroachments, ensuring adherence to legal processes.

In response to criticism from BRS leader T. Harish Rao regarding government relief efforts, Reddy challenged Rao to clarify his stance on the encroachment issues.

The Chief Minister assured that the government would continue to support flood-affected individuals and requested the Mahabubabad Collector to compile a comprehensive report of affected areas to improve future flood prevention measures. He also announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹5 lakh each to the families of the four individuals, including a father and daughter, who died in rain-related incidents in Mahabubabad district.

News by Prime Time Today