HYDRAA’s Next Target: Operation Nala

The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has been making waves in Telangana over the past few weeks by demolishing illegal structures built on encroached lake areas.

Now, HYDRAA has also started focusing on establishments encroaching on nalas (drainage channels) in Hyderabad, which are obstructing floodwater flow. Under this “Operation Nala,” HYDRAA targets buildings and structures constructed on or in place of nalas and demolishes them if needed.

Recently, officials demolished illegal structures near a nala in Ramnagar after receiving complaints from local residents. This same approach is likely to be applied in other areas as well.

Currently, HYDRAA is concentrating on areas within the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits and around the Outer Ring Road (ORR).

Hyderabad has over 370 km of major nalas and about 1,250 km of stormwater drains. However, these nalas can only handle 2 cm of rainfall per hour, leading to frequent flooding in nearby low-lying areas during heavy rains.

An estimated 12,000 illegal structures have been identified along nalas in Hyderabad, with around 35% of them being non-residential complexes.

The cost of developing the city’s nalas is projected to be around Rs. 10,000 crore. To achieve this, illegal structures around the nalas need to be removed, which is why HYDRAA started focusing on these encroachments.