Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has taken a sensational decision regarding the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) matter. Against the backdrop of the High Court single bench’s order to remove HYDRAA chief A.V. Ranganath, the government has extended its full support to him. The Chief Minister, along with senior officials, has directed authorities to obtain a comprehensive legal opinion on the process of the court’s orders.
During a recent hearing, the High Court single bench made strong remarks and issued clear orders for Ranganath to be removed from his post at HYDRAA. The court observed that the orders it had issued had been disregarded as many as 63 times, and that it was not appropriate to continue an official who had committed so many violations in the same position. It remarked that there was no option but to appoint another IG-level officer in place of Ranganath.
Amid these developments, the Revanth Reddy government urgently met with its legal team and directed a thorough examination of the contempt-of-court petitions. The government is quickly considering challenging the single bench’s verdict by appealing to the High Court’s division bench. Viewing IPS officer Ranganath’s role as crucial to the demolition-of-encroachments actions being carried out by HYDRAA, the government has signaled that it will not back down on the matter.
Even as it faces legal challenges on one hand, the government is swiftly taking decisions to further strengthen the HYDRAA system on the other. As part of this, the Telangana Finance Department has issued official orders sanctioning Rs 72 crore for HYDRAA’s operations, infrastructure, and operational expenses. With this massive fund allocation, the agency will be able to procure the new technical equipment, staff salaries, and emergency vehicles it needs.
The government stated that these funds would help protect lakes, ponds, and government lands, as well as further strengthen disaster management measures in the city. Officials believe this budget will greatly help the agency speed up its functions without any shortage of infrastructure.
Around “HYDRAA,” which Chief Minister Revanth Reddy considers his dream project, both a legal battle and an expansion of infrastructure are now proceeding in parallel. By moving to appeal in the High Court’s division bench to protect Ranganath’s post, and by releasing the budget to ensure the agency’s operations do not stall anywhere, the government has demonstrated administrative clarity.