Actor Nagarjuna’s convention hall built on ‘encroached land’ in Hyderabad demolished by HYDRAA. (Image by arrangement)
Hyderabad’s first purpose-built, cutting-edge, service-oriented convention centre, jointly owned by actor/producer Nagarjuna Akkineni and Nalla Preetham, was demolished as part of the ongoing effort to remove illegal structures that have encroached on water bodies and public lands throughout the state.
The demolition has sent shockwaves through political and film circles. The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection (HYDRAA) authorities began demolishing the N Convention Centre in Madhapur, Ranga Reddy district, Telangana, on Saturday.
The convention centre, which occupies ten acres of land, was said to have violated various land use and environmental regulations. The facility allegedly encroached land on 1.12 acres within the Tummidikunta lake’s Full Tank Level (FTL) and a further 2 acres within the lake’s permitted buffer zone. The message sent was loud and clear: no person or political big shot has the right to encroach any public land.
Lesson for others
“HYDRAA is doing absolutely fine. In fact, it’s much-needed. Until now, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority had failed to preserve our lakes. Hydra is currently attempting to identify the lakes that have completely vanished from the landscape,” says Karuna Gopal, president of Foundation for Futuristic Cities.
“Not only have the lakes physically vanished, they have also vanished from all maps. Building something on the lake is a disaster. The authorities have to identify these buildings. They should have taken action years ago. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of people in the city and to enforce adherence to regulations,” says Karuna.
Lesson for others
“HYDRAA is doing absolutely fine. In fact, it’s much-needed. Until now, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority had failed to preserve our lakes. Hydra is currently attempting to identify the lakes that have completely vanished from the landscape,” says Karuna Gopal, president of Foundation for Futuristic Cities.
“Not only have the lakes physically vanished, they have also vanished from all maps. Building something on the lake is a disaster. The authorities have to identify these buildings. They should have taken action years ago. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of people in the city and to enforce adherence to regulations,” says Karuna.
UNLAWFUL
Nagarjuna has expressed anger over the action, and claimed that the demolition was carried out in an unlawful manner. In a post on X, the actor said, “Pained by the unlawful manner of demolition carried out in respect of N Convention, contrary to existing stay orders and Court cases. I thought it fit to issue this statement to place on record certain facts for protecting my reputation and to indicate that we have not done any actions in violation of law.”
Nagarjuna has expressed anger over the action, and claimed that the demolition was carried out in an unlawful manner. In a post on X, the actor said, “Pained by the unlawful manner of demolition carried out in respect of N Convention, contrary to existing stay orders and Court cases. I thought it fit to issue this statement to place on record certain facts for protecting my reputation and to indicate that we have not done any actions in violation of law.”
‘If we mess with nature, Nature will mess with us’
It’s important today that we protect and expand the capacity of waterbodies. Instead, we see the reverse happening. Quickly filling up lakes and building in FTL zones is only going to harm the buildings built in these zones. They will be the ones to be inundated first and will suffer and will have to keep solving water oozing and seepage issues every monsoon.” — Kalpana Ramesh, architect and head of the Rainwater Project.
“Hyderabad and Secunderabad are known as the twin cities, the lake cities, just like Minneapolis and Saint Paul in America, where there are a number of lakes, and are also twin cities. But we have lost the lakes, they have preserved them. It is a lesson to all those who are trying to encroach on other lakes,” says Karuna
Nip encroachments in the bud
“Hyderabad and Secunderabad are known as the twin cities, the lake cities, just like Minneapolis and Saint Paul in America, where there are a number of lakes, and are also twin cities. But we have lost the lakes, they have preserved them. It is a lesson to all those who are trying to encroach on other lakes,” says Karuna
Nip encroachments in the bud
Firstly, the laws prohibit the encroachment of water bodies, as they are essential for our water security. They are among the city’s water sponges. The water bodies and wetlands not only store water, but they also sequester rainwater into the ground and make it available for later use by all life forms. They also rebuild the groundwater, offering long-term water security. We must immediately address the threat posed by these encroachments to prevent a potential disaster. These encroachments gradually creep in, and before we know it, the entire water body disappears. We must nip all encroachments in the bud. It could be beneficial if the government implemented a policy to acquire the buffer zones, offering benefits to the landowners. Under government control, the area will be safer. Urban Forests could be ensured on buffer zones, to help rebuild nature in our cities. In fact, the buffer zones provided under law are not sufficient. All flood plains and marshes need protection, which the law doesn’t address. World over now the stress is to build sponge cities, as they have realised the folly of concretisation. Our cities were originally sponge cities, we need to find our way back. — Sandeep Anirudhan, Convenor, Coalition for Water Security
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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