Won't Touch Ordinary People's Houses: HYDRA Commissioner

HYDRA Commissioner A V Ranganath today said that the houses of ordinary people in the encroached areas of the FTL and buffer zones of lakes and tanks were not being demolished.

He said that only new structures which encroached upon the FTL and buffer zones were being demolished, and that the existing under-construction structures would be demolished as well.

"The structures that were demolished on Sunday at Madhapur's Sunnam tank and the Mallampet tank in Dundigal are currently under construction. Despite all the warnings, construction is being carried out in the FTL and buffer zones without any permission," he said.

He said that the compound walls, some rooms and sheds were demolished by HYDRA as they encroached upon the FTL and buffer zones in Aminpur.

"These structures belong to YSRCP leader and former Panyam MLA Katasani Rambhupal Reddy. Some of the sheds and hotels constructed in the Sunnam tank were demolished as they were being used commercially," he said.

Commenting on the seven villas demolished in Mallampet tank of Dundigal, he said that they were all under-construction structures.

"These buildings are being constructed within the FTL limits without any permissions," he said. He also said that the builder of the illegal structures was a Vijayalakshmi, who is locally known as Lady Don, and that local politicians were associated with the constructions of these buildings.

Criminal cases were registered against Vijayalakshmi and former MLA Katasani Rambhupal Reddy after several complaints were lodged at local police stations by their victims, he said. Some people were constructing and renting out illegal structures built within the FTL and buffer zones, and cases were being filed against such people, he said.

Ranganath said that the common people need not worry, and requested them to not to buy houses, flats or lands in the FTL and buffer zones.

"If anybody has any suspicion that properties they are considering for purchase fall within the FTL or buffer zones, they are advised to visit the HMDA website," the HYDRA Commissioner said.