HYDERABAD – In a massive enforcement drive carried out on Tuesday, February 10, 2025, the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) successfully reclaimed nearly 4 acres of government-owned pond land at Jangamoni Kunta in Kondapur. The land, situated in the heart of Hyderabad’s IT corridor, is valued at an estimated ₹700 crore.

The operation targeted illegal encroachments in Survey No. 134, located along the Serilingampally Municipal Office–Madinaguda road. This crackdown follows weeks of public outcry and a formal complaint lodged via the Prajavani grievance platform regarding the systematic “disappearance” of the traditional water body.

The Vanishing Lake: How Land Sharks Targeted Jangamoni Kunta

Investigations revealed that encroachers had been dumping massive quantities of soil and debris to fill the pond, effectively erasing its existence from the physical landscape. The lake bed was flattened and demarcated into high-value residential and commercial plots. In Kondapur, where market rates hover around ₹200 crore per acre, the attempted land grab represented one of the largest potential thefts of public property in recent years.

Key Highlights of the February 10 Operation:

• Restoration: HYDRAA teams used heavy machinery to remove illegal fills, restoring the pond’s catchment area.

• Perimeter Security: Permanent barbed-wire fencing was installed around the 4-acre site on Tuesday afternoon to prevent re-occupation.

• Legal Action: Revenue officials have initiated the process of registering criminal cases against the individuals and developers involved in the filling of the lake.

• Official Branding: Prominent signboards were erected, clearly marking the land as “Government Property – Water Body (FTL Zone).”

“This action marks the beginning of a targeted drive to protect over 300 ‘unrecorded’ kuntas across the city,” said HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath. “These are water bodies that appear on Survey of India maps but have been omitted from local village records, making them vulnerable to land sharks.”

A Busy Week for HYDRAA

The reclamation of Jangamoni Kunta follows a string of high-impact operations this week. On Monday, February 9, the agency secured 3,000 square yards of park land worth ₹60 crore at the Narsingi crossroads. Additionally, on Friday, February 6, HYDRAA cleared 11 acres of encroachments at Sumaru Kunta in Doolapally and reclaimed 3.2 acres of government land in Yousufguda.

Local residents and environmental activists have praised the swift action, noting that preserving Jangamoni Kunta is vital for maintaining the local water table and preventing the flash floods that frequently paralyze the Serilingampally region during the monsoon.

Read More News

“Technical Fault or Human Error?” Ex-DGCA Official Weighs in on Ajit Pawar’s Fatal Crash

ED Attaches ₹11.14 Cr Assets of Cricketers Raina, Dhawan in Illegal Online Betting Probe

Supreme Court Stays Kerala HC Order Declaring Munambam Land ‘Not Waqf’; Orders Status Quo