Heavy rain exposed urban mismanagement: TG CM

Revanth vows ruthless action against encroachments

Revanth Reddy said water that should have remained in lakes and ponds was entering colonies and residential areas

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday strongly defended the State government's anti encroachment and lake restoration initiatives, asserting that heavy rain on Tuesday in Hyderabad exposed the consequences of unchecked encroachments on water bodies and government lands. He said the government was committed to clearing illegal structures, restoring lakes and creating sustainable urban infrastructure as part of its long term vision for Telangana.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Future City Development Authority (FCDA) office and unveiling the FCDA logo and website at Bharat Future City, the Chief Minister said even the season’s first spell of rain had brought Hyderabad traffic to a standstill, with commuters taking two to four hours to travel a distance of just one kilometre in some areas. He questioned those who had boasted about soaring land values in the past and asked them to explain the recurring urban flooding witnessed in the city.

Revanth Reddy said water that should have remained in lakes and ponds was entering colonies and residential areas because of large scale encroachments on government lands, tanks and water bodies. He asserted that the government was demolishing illegal structures built on such lands without hesitation and clarified that the administration was not acquiring even an inch of private land, but only removing encroachments and restoring natural water systems.

Highlighting the broader vision behind the Future City project, the Chief Minister said Telangana was laying the foundations today for a world class city that would serve future generations. Drawing parallels with landmark infrastructure projects such as Hitec City, the Outer Ring Road, Genome Valley and the international airport, he said visionary decisions taken by previous administrations had transformed Hyderabad into a global investment destination and generated employment for lakhs of people.

He said Bharat Future City would play a key role in helping Telangana achieve a one trillion dollar economy by 2034. The government aims to attract leading global IT, GCC, green pharma and manufacturing companies, including several Fortune 500 firms, to the region. He also announced plans to host another global summit to showcase investment opportunities in the new city.

The Chief Minister said the government was restoring lakes across Hyderabad, citing works at Rajendranagar Lake, Nalla Cheruvu in Kukatpally and Bathukamma Kunta in Amberpet. He reiterated that Telangana would develop a pollution free, environmentally sustainable city that would emerge as a global model for urban planning and economic growth. Speaker G. Prasad Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Ministers D. Sridhar Babu and Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, Rajya Sabha member V. Narender Reddy and several legislators attended the programme.