HYDRA Demolishes N-Convention Centre Amid Controversy

The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection (HYDRA) agency executed the demolition of the N-Convention Centre on Saturday, a property owned by prominent Telugu actor Nagarjuna Akkineni. The demolition took place under strict police security at the convention centre located on a 10-acre site in Madhapur, Cyberabad.

For several years, scrutiny has surrounded the N-Convention Centre due to allegations that builders constructed it within the Full Tank Level (FTL) area and buffer zone of the Thammidikunta Lake. Reports indicate that the property encroached on approximately 1.12 acres of the FTL area and an additional 2 acres within the buffer zone. The FTL area of Thammidikunta Lake is roughly 29.24 acres.

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Despite these allegations, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) had not previously acted against the centre. Reports suggested that the centre’s management might have used influence to avoid regulatory actions.

The demolition follows a complaint lodged by Minister for Roads and Buildings Komatireddy Venkat Reddy on August 21. In his complaint, he further provided evidence including FTL maps and Google Earth imagery showing the alleged encroachment. The Congress government recently established HYDRA for the Telangana Core Urban Region (TCUR) to manage disaster responses, protect government assets, and address illegal constructions.

HYDRA, led by IPS officer A. V. Ranganath, has been actively demolishing unauthorized structures in and around Hyderabad. Recent actions include demolitions near the Gandipet reservoir and heritage lake Bum-Rukn-Ud-Dowla in Shastripuram. The agency has focused on reclaiming encroached land in water bodies and protecting open spaces.

Nagarjuna Akkineni Expressed Discontent

Following the demolition, Nagarjuna Akkineni expressed his discontent with the actions taken. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he alleged that authorities carried out the demolition despite an existing stay order from the court. He claims that the N-Convention Centre was built on Patta land and that the property did not encroach on the tank plan.

The actor’s statement emphasizes that authorities carried out the demolition “wrongfully based on misinformation” and failed to provide prior notice. He indicated his intention to seek legal recourse to address what he described as wrongful actions by the authorities.

However, HYDRA was introduced by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on July 12, 2024, as part of the National Disaster Management Act. The agency’s further mandate includes managing natural disasters, protecting government properties, and addressing encroachments and illegal constructions.