In a bold move to mitigate annual monsoon flooding, the Hyderabad Disaster Management and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) carried out a large-scale demolition operation early Friday on Patny Nala in Rasoolpura, under the jurisdiction of the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB). Over the years, rampant encroachment had reduced the nala’s original width of 70 feet to a mere 15–18 feet in several stretches. Unauthorized structures—including shops, washrooms, and security cabins—were razed using bulldozers during the early hours of the operation. The demolition was preceded by a high-level inspection conducted by HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath and SCB CEO D. Madhukar Naik, who were shown images by concerned locals highlighting the severe flooding caused by the nala’s overflow in previous monsoons.
Residents from affected areas such as Paigah Colony, Patny Colony, Viman Nagar, BHEL Colony, and Indiramma Nagar actively participated during the inspection, urging swift action. According to the officials, more than 70% of Patny Nala had been encroached upon by illegal constructions over time. With the nala’s original alignment severely compromised, HYDRAA and SCB collaborated to not only remove the illegal structures but also draw up plans to construct protective retaining walls. The goal is to ensure long-term flood prevention and reclaim the full water-carrying capacity of this vital urban drainage channel. The area was heavily guarded by police personnel during the operation, and drone footage capturing the extent of encroachment and ongoing clearance was released to the media by HYDRAA.
Locals welcomed the intervention, citing years of hardship due to recurrent inundation during the rainy season. The debris from the demolished structures was found piled up along the nala banks, underscoring the magnitude of unauthorized development that had choked the waterway. Officials reiterated that further clean-up and infrastructure development will follow in phases, aiming to transform the Patny Nala into a resilient drainage corridor. This operation marks HYDRAA’s growing footprint beyond GHMC limits, reinforcing its commitment to environmental protection, urban safety, and disaster resilience across Hyderabad and Secunderabad zones.
