EV & DM NOW ‘HYDRA’-HEADED Revamped body to offer range of citizen services

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has directed officials to establish HYDRA (Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection) to offer a broad array of services to the public in line with the rapid expansion of Hyderabad. The CM decided to constitute HYDRA under the National Disaster Management Act and asked officials to study its establishment and finalise the modalities for implementing it. The CM suggested creating a mechanism to coordinate the services of the GHMC, the HMWSSB, Vigilance, Traffic, the energy department and the police to implement HYDRA effectively. The existing Enforcement Vigilance and Disaster Management Department will be reorganised accordingly. The CM ordered officials to prepare detailed proposals regarding staff requirements and the possibility of sending employees on deputation from other departments to work in HYDRA. He said that HYDRA should manage an area of 2,000 square km up to the ORR (Outer Ring Road) and align its geographical limits with the existing zones of the city for operational convenience. The draft proposal for HYDRA should be ready before the start of the Assembly session, and the allocation of special funds, if necessary, should be considered, he said. Revanth conducted a review meeting at the Secretariat on setting up HYDRA and to finalise its modalities. Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, Municipal Administration Secretary Dana Kishore, GHMC Commissioner Amrapali, GHMC EVDM Commissioner Ranganath, CMO Principal Secretary Seshadri, and the CM’s Special Secretary, Ajith Reddy, attended the meeting. The Chief Minister said that besides disaster management, HYDRA would be responsible for protecting government properties, curbing the encroachment of ponds and canals, removing encroachments and illegal buildings, managing traffic and ensuring the supply of drinking water and electricity. The responsibility for removing unauthorised hoardings and flexies in the GHMC area and collecting penalties would be given to HYDRA.