Why has HYDRAA not acted against Fatima Owaisi Women’s College built on Suram Lake FTL?
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) is under public and political scrutiny for not initiating demolition proceedings against Fatima Owaisi Women’s College, which has been identified as an encroachment within the Full Tank Level (FTL) of Suram Cheruvu.
Despite its ongoing drive against illegal constructions on lakebeds, HYDRAA has so far not moved against the college. This has raised questions about whether the agency is adopting a lenient stance towards the institution, which is run by AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi.
HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath confirmed that the college is located within the FTL zone. He said the agency had initially planned to take action against all such encroachments, including Fatima College, after the end of the academic year in September. However, in this case, he said the agency had taken several social factors into account.
Fatima Owaisi Women’s College is run by a non-profit charitable trust and offers education from kindergarten to post-graduation, primarily to underprivileged Muslim girls. The institution charges little to no fees and has more than 10,000 students. HYDRAA officials noted that the college plays a significant role in providing access to education and empowerment for women from marginalized backgrounds.
Criticism, however, has followed the agency’s decision to delay action. Some have accused HYDRAA of showing favoritism towards AIMIM. In response, the agency pointed to several instances where it has acted against illegal constructions linked to the same political party.
On August 8 last year, HYDRAA carried out a major demolition drive around Bum Rukn-ud-Daula Lake, near the National Police Academy and Shivaram Pally. Buildings allegedly constructed by MIM MLAs and MLCs were among those demolished. The 25-acre lake, reportedly worth over ₹1,000 crore in real estate value, had been carved into plots by private developers associated with the Owaisi family. Despite legal hurdles, HYDRAA continued restoration work, which is ongoing.
In another operation, the agency cleared illegal commercial establishments on government land in Chandrayangutta, Akbaruddin Owaisi’s constituency, reclaiming 3,000 square yards estimated to be worth ₹30 crore.
HYDRAA stated that its actions are based on broader public interest and not political affiliations. The agency maintains that enforcement should not follow a one-size-fits-all approach, especially in cases where institutions serve a clear public good.
Officials added that the focus should first be on removing illegal, profit-oriented commercial structures from FTL zones, while decisions regarding charitable educational institutions should be taken with consideration for their social impact.
HYDRAA has reiterated that it remains committed to removing all encroachments but stressed the need to distinguish between different types of violations, particularly when public welfare is involved.
