Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (Hydraa) carried out anti-encroachment operations in Nizampet and the Old City on Friday, reclaiming and securing 20 acres of government land valued at nearly ₹1,700 crore.

In Nizampet village, Bachupally mandal, Medchal-Malkajgiri district, Hydraa protected 13 acres after complaints from mandal revenue officials. A joint inspection found about four acres encroached upon, with permanent residential structures being built. Without disturbing existing houses, officials removed temporary sheds from the remaining land, fenced the 13 acres and installed signs identifying it as government property. Hydraa commissioner AV Ranganath estimated its value at around ₹1,300 crore.

A separate operation in the Old City reclaimed seven acres.

Nizampet residents are seeking road widening, better sanitation and action against encroachments on lakes and other water bodies following the area’s merger with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), while fearing higher property taxes, water bills and other charges. GHMC trade licence fees will apply to commercial establishments.

At Pragathi Nagar, residents reported manual manhole cleaning and irregular debris collection. Nizampet Deputy Commissioner Saber Ali said residential and commercial structures encroach on several roads; residents expect GHMC’s engineering wing to survey assets and identify encroachments.

Nizampet has 25 approved and 51 unapproved layouts. GHMC will decide whether to penalise or regularise the unapproved layouts. The area generates 110 metric tonnes of garbage daily and has a two-bin collection system and 283 km of roads.

Nizampet became a ULB in 2019 through the merger of the Pragati Nagar, Nizampet and Bachupally gram panchayats. Its 2011 population was 4.88 lakh; it had 82,837 property tax assessments, monthly power charges of ₹1.65 crore, 13.20 km of stormwater drains and 141.3 km of sewerage lines.

HYDRAA reclaimed two park sites in Nizampet Municipality on Wednesday, restoring 2,600 square yards valued at over ₹39 crore for community use. Acting on complaints through the Prajavani grievance platform, officials inspected Brindavan Colony and Kaushalya Colony. They reclaimed 2,300 square yards in Brindavan Colony and the 300-square-yard Banyan Tree Park in Kaushalya Colony. Both sites are under Survey No. 93 and earmarked as parkland; encroachers claimed they belonged to Survey No. 94. Officials found fencing demolished, signage removed and play equipment destroyed. On-site verification led Commissioner AV Ranganath to direct clearance operations. HYDRAA removed illegal structures, fenced the land and installed boards designating it protected parkland under its supervision. Residents celebrated the restoration.

Internal roads across Hyderabad have deteriorated over the past year, with stormwater pipelines under the Strategic Nala Development Programme and drainage works leaving stretches bumpy, dug up and unmotorable. Roads in Tarnaka, between Lalapet and Nacharam main roads, await re-carpeting after pipeline work and carry regular two- and four-wheeler traffic. RTC Colony’s main road and nearby colony roads in Chintalkunta have also remained dug up for several months. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation council’s dissolution has left local areas without elected representatives. Residents report similar problems in Hitech City, Gachibowli, Attapur, Rajendranagar, Nizampet, Bachupally, Madhapur-Kakatiya Hills, Ayyappa Society and Gayatrinagar.

Former Keesara sub-registrar Mohammad Yousuf-ur-Rahman was arrested by Keesara police for allegedly facilitating registration of fake and tampered property documents used in real estate transactions and housing-loan frauds. The arrest came nearly five months after six people were arrested in the case. The fraud surfaced after retired Nizampet employee Doppalapudi Ravindra complained that fake sale deeds had been executed for his 300-square-yard plot in Rampally village. Police allege Yousuf-ur-Rahman colluded with conspirators, fake sellers, impersonators, loan borrowers, document writers, GPA holders and real estate brokers. Forged documents were registered and used as title or security to obtain loans from banks and housing finance companies. Investigators identified 11 transactions involving about ₹4.11 crore.