Ground-level push for a better Hyderabad
Every city has stories that unfold silently! They may not grab headlines, or trend for a day and vanish. But these stories can slowly change how people live and become the lifeline of a city long before people realise their worth and value. Over the past few months, Hyderabad has been witnessing one such story, or many short stories woven into a single narrative tapestry through the work of the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA).
For many residents, the difference is beginning to show in small, everyday ways. A bylane road feels wider because illegal structures are gone. A lake seems to hold more water than it did last monsoon. A neighbourhood park that didn’t disappear under a fresh avalanche of construction. These may not be dramatic changes – like the shifting dynamics and fortunes of the tinsel town on Fridays – but they matter deeply to protect the smooth rhythm of urban life.
Taking back what belongs to the public
HYDRAA stepped into spaces that are usually complicated: government land caught in disputes, layouts where public areas had been taken over, drains narrowed by years of unchecked construction. In Miyapur, Nizampet, Kondapur, Bandlaguda and several other growing neighbourhoods, teams surveyed land, cleared encroachments, razed illegal constructions, fenced vulnerable parcels, and worked towards making the ownership unmistakably clear.
This work has not always been welcomed. Anti-encroachment drives rarely are. There were protests in some pockets, sharp criticism in political circles, and accusations that travelled faster than the facts. Court cases followed. People began voicing stronger opinions.
Yet, the agency continued its work with a certain restraint while focusing less on responding to the noise and more on finishing what it had started.
Because once public land is lost, getting it back is rarely easy.
Bringing lakes back to life
The same sense of urgency has influenced how HYDRAA stepped in to protect lakes that were once an integral part of Hyderabad’s lush green landscape but have steadily shrunk under pressure from urban expansion.
Encroachments around Durgam Cheruvu were cleared. Restoration efforts gathered momentum at Nallacheruvu. Plans were put in place to improve the ecological health of Saroor Nagar Lake. Even heritage water bodies such as Katora Houz began receiving attention which, as felt by many old Hyderabadis, was long overdue.
The impact that stronger bunds, desilting work and protective fencing created was clearly visible. If lakes can hold more water, it helps reduce flooding. Open shorelines give neighbourhoods breathing space. Restored water bodies help cool nearby areas, offering much-needed relief during peak summer when temperatures often rise above 45°C.
A midnight reminder of what the agency truly stands for
And then came a night that reminded everyone that HYDRAA is not only about land and infrastructure. It is also about people.
Late on Sunday, January 25, 2026, nine engineers and workers were stranded in the middle of Mir Alam Tank while conducting a soil test for a proposed bridge. Their boat engine had failed, and thick water hyacinths prevented any movement. Darkness had settled in, and the vast stretch of water around them made the situation increasingly frightening. There were even frightened whispers about crocodiles in the lake.
A rescue operation began close to midnight.
Using flashlights and the faint glow of mobile phone signals, HYDRAA’s Disaster Rescue Force navigated the waters to locate the stranded team. With diligence, patience and precision that comes not only from training and resilience but also from a clear understanding that nine anxious families were waiting somewhere for good news, the Force carried out the entire operation.
By the end of the operation, every one of the stranded personnel had been brought safely back to shore.
Later, acknowledging what many in the city were already thinking, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy commended the team for their swift response and courage. It is through moments like these that institutions earn trust.
Crackdown on establishments: Tackling fire safety hazards
Alongside its work on land protection and lake restoration, the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency has also been strengthening fire preparedness across vulnerable pockets of the city. Taking a serious note of the recent fire accidents in the city, HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath has launched a series of fire safety drives, and deployed teams to conduct fire safety awareness programmes, focusing on improving fire safety measures in the city and preventing loss of life.
Teams have been conducting inspections in densely built neighbourhoods, clearing access routes that could otherwise slow down emergency vehicles, and coordinating closely with the Fire Department to improve response time. In several locations, encroachments blocking internal roads were removed with safety in mind, ensuring that help can reach residents without delay.
Awareness efforts have also encouraged basic precautions among building owners. In a strict crackdown on commercial establishments, following a thorough inspection of the premises, the agency has seized a few shops and furniture showrooms for severe fire safety violations.
These steps may not always draw attention, but in moments of crisis, they can make a life-saving difference.
Standing firm through noise and resistance
Perhaps, what stands out most about HYDRAA’s journey so far is its willingness to stay the course even when the work becomes uncomfortable. Protecting public land means drawing firm lines. Restoring lakes often means undoing years of neglect. Both invite scrutiny.
But cities grow stronger when someone is willing to take a strong stand.
→ When lakes hold more water, flooding reduces.
→ When nalas flow freely, monsoons feel refreshing.
→ When public land is protected, future development becomes possible.
→ When enforcement is predictable, urban growth becomes healthier.
These are not dramatic, or overnight, changes. They are gradual, almost invisible, improvements that accumulate into a better quality of life.
A shift citizens are beginning to notice
Today, the results are becoming easier to notice. The city is slowly and consistently equipping itself to handle sudden downpours with drains being recovered before the next spell of heavy rain. Public spaces are being secured to add infrastructural value. Lakes are returning to their original size, bit by bit.
None of this transforms a city overnight or with a ‘single fix’ or ‘one size fits all’ approach. But taken together, these efforts create something far more valuable.
When protection meets persistence
In an era where visibility is often mistaken for impact, HYDRAA has chosen a different path to prove its purpose – through actions rather than words. The agency has been doing its work, while withstanding pressure, and moving forward without fanfare.
Sometimes, the strongest institutions are the ones you notice only when you pause long enough to see how much calmer the city feels.
Perhaps, that patient – and consistent – correction is HYDRAA’s defining characteristic. And perhaps, this reassurance that someone is watching over the “shared spaces” is what the city and its people need. And sometimes, that reassurance is what makes a fast-growing metropolis feel a little more liveable, and a lot more humane.
Not for today alone, but for decades to come!