Telangana Authorities Demolish Illegal Building In Lake To Protect Water Bodies

In a decisive move against illegal constructions aimed at preserving water bodies, authorities in Telangana’s Sangareddy district demolished a multi-storeyed building located in a lake using a controlled explosion on Thursday.

The four-storeyed structure, built without permission, was situated in a lake in Malkapur, within the Kondapur mandal, approximately 60 kilometers from Hyderabad. The demolition followed complaints from local villagers regarding the unauthorized construction.

Revenue officials acted swiftly, using explosives to bring down the building, which even included a ramp and staircase leading into the lake. Reports indicate that a resident from Hyderabad constructed the building 12 years ago, and the owner, along with family members, frequently visited the site on weekends. A swimming pool was also under construction at the time of the demolition.

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This marked the first time officials used explosives for such demolitions since they launched a special initiative to reclaim encroached lands around lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and other water bodies.

Thasildar Anita explained that the lake has a Full Tank Level (FTL) area of 3.1 acres, and the illegal building occupied 250 square yards within that FTL. She confirmed that authorities issued a notice to the owner prior to the demolition.

Due to the building’s location, which made it inaccessible to vehicles, officials resorted to using explosives for the demolition. The police established stringent security measures to ensure the operation’s safety, although a home guard sustained minor injuries during the blast.

The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has been actively demolishing unauthorized structures in and around Hyderabad over the past few months, while authorities in other regions of Telangana have recently initiated similar actions.

Following recent flooding incidents in Khammam, Mahabubabad, Suraypet, and other districts, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy instructed district collectors to identify and demolish buildings constructed within the FTL and buffer zones of lakes.