HYDRA to cover 2K sqkm of Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said that the newly-created HYDRA (Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection) will cover 2,000 square kilometres of the city's region and offer a wide range of services in the GHMC limits, 27 surrounding municipalities and 33 gram panchayats up to the Outer Ring Road (ORR).

Officials have been asked to conduct a further study on the establishment of HYDRA and finalise the modalities to enforce the new system.

The Chief Minister suggested the development of a coordination mechanism between GHMC, Water Board, vigilance, energy, law and order and traffic wings of police to implement HYDRA effectively. The existing enforcement vigilance and disaster management department will be reorganised accordingly.

Revanth Reddy directed the officials to prepare clear proposals about the requirement of staff at different levels and the deputation from other wings to work in HYDRA.

The draft proposal for HYDRA should be prepared before the start of the Assembly session and consider the allocation of special funds, if necessary.

The Chief Minister held a review meeting on the formation of HYDRA and the finalisation of the modalities at the Secretariat on Friday. It was attended by Chief Secretary A. Santhi Kumari, municipal administration secretary Dana Kishore, GHMC commissioner Amrapali Kata, GHMC EV&DM commissioner A.V. Ranganath, CMO principal secretary V. Seshadri and CM special secretary Ajith Reddy.

Along with the management of disasters, the Chief Minister said HYDRA should be entrusted with the responsibilities of protection of government properties, curbing the encroachment of ponds, lakes and nalas, removal of encroachments, illegal constructions and structures, removal of illegal hoardings and advertisements, traffic management, drinking water and electricity supply.

He alerted the officials of HMDA, Water Board, disaster management and municipal administration to maintain regular coordination among themselves. The responsibility of removal of unauthorised hoardings and flexies under the jurisdiction of GHMC and collection of penalties will be transferred to HYDRA in the new system. The officials are advised to conduct a study to bring stringent rules to curb the encroachment of lakes, nalas, ponds and government lands.