HYDRA: Hit Wicket For Revanth Reddy?

HYDRA has been the topic of discussion in Telangana over the last couple of months. The government of Telangana, led by Congress, introduced HYDRA to demolish illegal structures that were built by encroaching on lakes and water bodies.

HYDRA gained traction after demolishing actor Nagarjuna’s N-Convention in August. Back then, people called it a revolutionary move and termed HYDRA the game-changer in Telangana.

Even Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and other cabinet ministers vowed that they would not spare anyone who built their structures illegally on water bodies.

Cut to September, HYDRA has become the most criticized agency by the people of Telangana. The main reason for this shift in opinion is the demolition of poor people’s houses in and around lakes.

The demolition drives at Madhapur, Kukatpally, and Ameenpur resulted in a huge backlash against HYDRA. It was alleged that many poor people lost their homes without proper prior warnings.

Though HYDRA claims that it didn’t demolish the houses where people have been residing for years, the videos on social media of poor people weeping tell a different story.

This led to widespread criticism against HYDRA and the Congress government. People started protesting on the roads.

Meanwhile, Revanth Reddy has remained silent on the ongoing protests. On the other side, ministers are coming up with different statements, making people assume that Congress leaders lack clarity among themselves.

While one minister says that the opposition BRS party is misleading people about HYDRA through fake propaganda on social media, another minister claims that BRS is giving people money to make such videos.

On the other hand, Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender said that he already warned officials not to go to poor people’s slums and instead take action on structures like Prasads IMAX and Jalavihar if needed.

People believe that these contrasting statements from Congress leaders could lead to their own downfall. They are hoping that, at least now, the government restructures HYDRA after receiving such a huge backlash. Otherwise, they feel that it will be like a hit wicket for Revanth Reddy and his Congress government.