HYDRAA Steps In to Demolish Encroachment on Park Land in Patancheru

The Hyderabad Development Authority and Regulatory Authority (HYDRAA) took significant action in the Muthangi area of Patancheru, demolishing a large shed that had been illegally constructed on a park in Gayatri Colony. This park, originally part of the layout established in 2004, was encroached upon in 2022. A group of alleged encroachers rebuilt the shed twice after it had been dismantled by local residents, escalating tensions in the community.

The park’s encroachment was a source of constant friction between residents and real estate developers who allegedly sought to claim the park's land. The demolition was prompted by the ongoing illegal activities, with the shed being reconstructed despite residents’ efforts to remove it. After the demolition, HYDRAA's commissioner, A.V. Ranganath, filed a formal complaint with the Patancheru police, naming four individuals—Praveen, Ravi, Mehraj Khan, and Raju—accused of the encroachment. These individuals are reportedly involved in a real estate firm and reside in the same village.

For months, the Gayatri Colony Residents Association had been voicing their concerns over the encroachment and the illegal structures erected on parkland. According to local residents, the shed was initially built by the alleged encroachers, which led to the association taking action. The residents used machinery to remove the structure, but the encroachers quickly rebuilt it, with CCTV cameras reportedly being installed around the park to monitor residents’ activities. Despite these efforts, the illegal shed continued to be reconstructed, prompting the association to lodge a formal complaint with HYDRAA.

The situation intensified when the alleged encroachers filed a counter-complaint against the residents. They not only approached the Patancheru police but also involved the residents' employers, adding further pressure on the association members. This move led the residents to withdraw their complaints after facing significant challenges and harassment.

Seshaiah, a resident, discussed the origins of the conflict, noting that the encroachers had falsely claimed ownership of the land. The parkland had been part of the original layout, and its ownership had always been in the hands of the community. Despite this, the encroachers continued to assert control over the land, leading to a prolonged dispute.

The Patancheru police have confirmed that two complaints are under investigation: one from the residents' association against the encroachers, and the other from the encroachers against the residents. Although HYDRAA’s intervention resulted in the removal of the illegal structures, concerns persist among residents and association members about the potential for further harassment and encroachment.