HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) on Saturday fenced around 840 acres of government land—with an estimated market value of Rs 30,000 crore—across Hyderabad, Rangareddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts. While the drive covered multiple locations, the operation at Bahadurguda in Shamshabad mandal saw protesting farmers clashing with police.
HYDRAA said that the land was secured at the request of the Revenue authorities to prevent further encroachments. Revenue, Municipal and HYDRAA officials carried out the fencing under heavy police security.
At Bahadurguda, officials fenced around 650 acres in Survey Nos. 28 and 62, earmarked for the proposed high-speed train hub project.
Separately, HYDRAA said the 1954 Khasra Pahani records Survey Nos. 25 and 26 as government land.
Govt land fencing faces resistance from residents
Officials found that parts of the land had allegedly been encroached upon, with farmhouses built by private individuals and agricultural activities being carried out. Several influential persons were also found to be in occupation of portions of the land.
The fencing was taken up despite a relay hunger strike by farmers and local residents opposing the acquisition. As officials moved in, hundreds of villagers gathered at the site, alleging that their agricultural land was being taken without their concerns being addressed. When protesters tried to stop the fencing work, a scuffle broke out with police. During the confrontation, some protesters allegedly threw chilli powder at police personnel.
A farmer, identified as Narasimha, reportedly collapsed after falling ill during the protest. The situation became tense for a while after fellow protesters stopped officials from taking him in an ambulance, before he was eventually taken for treatment. Police later detained several people for allegedly obstructing the operation.
HYDRAA also fenced 84 acres of government land in Survey No. 46 of Raidurg village in Serilingampally mandal. Officials alleged that encroachers had extended into the government land from an adjoining half-acre private patta land and were illegally selling plots.
In another operation, the agency secured 106 acres of government land in General Land Register (GLR) Nos. 243 and 255 in the Cantonment area, spread across Hyderabad and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts. The action followed complaints from local residents and requests from Revenue officials over illegal mining, encroachments and damage to wildlife habitats. Officials said unauthorised layouts had come up on the land and that the fencing was aimed at protecting both government property and wildlife, including peacocks affected by hill blasting and illegal occupation.
