Will remove encroachments on water bodies: Telangana CM

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday said the state government will demolish structures built illegally by occupying lakes in Hyderabad even if there are some big people involved. Speaking at the passing out parade of the newlyrecruited sub-inspectors of police (SI) here, he said the government has set up the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection Agency (HYDRA) to free lakes from those who have illegally occupied them.

"Even if there are some big people among the encroachers, they have to leave the lakes. That's why I am appealing to such big people to leave the lakes that you have occupied. Move out in a dignified manner. "Hand them over to the irrigation department. You construct at some other place. Otherwise, they will be razed suddenly. I will take the responsibility for demolishing such structures," he said.

Without hesitation, the government would remove illegal structures in the Full Tank Level (FTL) or buffer zones of water bodies or on drains, he said. The government would fight a legal battle to remove the encroachments even if the encroachers obtain a stay from the courts, he said.