Telangana State Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Sunday vowed to remove encroachment on lakes and ponds in and around Hyderabad and made it clear that the government would not give in to pressure.

He said the government was committed to protecting water bodies as they were crucial to meeting the water needs of the population.

The Chief Minister’s warning to encroachers came a day after the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection Authority (HYDRA) demolished a convention centre belonging to popular actor Nagarjuna in Madhapur region.

The N-Convention Centre was reportedly built at the Full Tank Level (FTL) and in the buffer zone area of ​​Thammidikunta Lake.

While laying the foundation stone of the Hare Krishna Heritage Tower, Revanth Reddy explained that Nizam developed Hyderabad as a lakeside city hundreds of years ago. He expressed concern over the construction of farmhouses for luxury purposes near lakes and ponds that quenched the thirst of millions of people.

The Chief Minister said that sewage from farms is being discharged into Gandipet (Osman Sagar) and Himayat Sagar reservoirs, which supply drinking water to the city.

He stated that protecting the waters and the city is the responsibility of everyone, but especially of the elected representatives.

“That is why our government has started protecting the lakes from encroachment using HYDRAA,” he said.

The Prime Minister also noted that his government, inspired by the teachings of Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the Battle of Kurukshetra, would fight against the expansion of the lakes. He clarified that this was not a political campaign.

“The government has taken this initiative to provide a better life for future generations. We will not give in to the pressure and will take strict action against the intruders,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that if natural resources were destroyed, the population would have to face the violence of nature.

HYDRA, formed by the state government last month, is busy demolishing illegal structures in the city and its surrounding areas to reclaim the encroached land including lakes, ponds and other water bodies.

Revanth Reddy claimed that his government stood for justice in the spirit of the teachings of Lord Krishna.

He made it clear that the government would not hesitate to demolish unauthorized buildings, even those built by government members.

Revanth Reddy said the government is giving priority to education and healthcare. He asked the Hare Krishna Foundation to supply food to Osmania, Gandhi, NIMS and Cancer Hospitals and assured the government of necessary facilities.

The Chief Minister said that the historic tower will impart spiritual teachings in the concrete jungle. The tower, which will be built with a height of 430 feet, will be the pride of Telangana, he said.

The construction of this tower will be completed in 36 to 40 months.