In a decisive move to reclaim Hyderabad’s vanishing water bodies, the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA) on Thursday, June 5, undertook a demolition drive at Chinnari Kunta lake in Alwal. Officials brought down three illegally constructed buildings that stood directly on the Full Tank Level (FTL) of the lake, posing serious risks to the natural water flow. According to local reports, these unauthorized structures had disrupted the rainwater drainage into the tank, leading to waterlogging and severe flooding in nearby residential colonies.

Residents had lodged several complaints with HYDRAA, alleging that illegal constructions were worsening the monsoon water accumulation. After a thorough verification process, HYDRAA, with the assistance of local law enforcement, moved in and dismantled the encroachments. This operation is part of HYDRAA’s broader mission to safeguard lakes across Hyderabad, many of which have been lost to unchecked urban expansion and illegal dumping.

The Chinnari Kunta operation comes a day after HYDRAA launched a similar drive in the Old City, targeting illegal encroachments on Bam Rukun-ud-Dowla lake. Officials aim to restore at least 18 acres of that water body, of which nearly 9 acres were found illegally filled with soil. These back-to-back efforts signal a renewed commitment by city authorities to revive and protect Hyderabad’s historic lakes and prevent future urban flooding caused by encroachments.