Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has, in a major operation on Saturday (July 18, 2026), secured the hillocks near Ammuguda which were under occupation by a renowned builder, and started fencing off the area.
This action vindicates the news story by The Hindu towards the end of May, which reported encroachment of the land and destruction of rock formations which were billions of years old.
While signboards installed at the location clearly stated that the land belonged to Defence, a communique from the office of General Officer Commanding (Telangana and Andhra Sub Area), citing ‘field inspection’ by Local Military Authority, strongly denied any encroachment on army land.
Society to Save Rocks, the whistle blower which first exposed the destruction of rocks, stuck by its guns and pursued the matter with HYDRAA in the face of severe pressure and legal notices served by the offender.
The builder in question was armed with an order from the High Court which confirmed private ownership of land in two survey numbers under the limits of Lothukunta village.
However, after field level inspection and enquiry aided by Revenue and satellite maps, HYDRAA officials reportedly arrived at the conclusion that the survey numbers shown were not of the land on which rocks had been destroyed.
They also found another government land encroached at the same location and pulled down the structures there too, sources informed. Exact details of the extent secured are yet to be known.
HYDRAA chief A.V.Ranganath was not available for his comment, though another official of the agency confirmed the operation.
Published – July 18, 2026 12:56 pm IST
