*Hyderabad:* Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has issued a stern warning, linking the recent floods in Telangana to widespread illegal encroachments on lakes and water bodies. In a public address, the CM emphasized that these encroachments have blocked natural water flow, increasing the flood risks in Hyderabad and other parts of the state.“Floods are coming today because of the lakes occupied by evildoers. That’s why we started HYDRA,” CM Revanth Reddy declared, referring to the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Monitoring and Protection Agency. He vowed that no matter the influence or power of the encroachers, they will be forced to vacate the lakes, and illegal constructions will be demolished if necessary. “We will raze them to the ground if needed,” he added, highlighting the government’s commitment to restoring and protecting Hyderabad’s natural water resources.In addition to cracking down on existing encroachments, the government is set to introduce stricter regulations. Sources have revealed that HYDRA will now play a pivotal role in the approval process for construction permits. A No Objection Certificate (NOC) from HYDRA will be mandatory for any residential or commercial developments near lakes and canals.The government is also reportedly working on amending building regulations to enforce this policy, ensuring that illegal constructions will not be granted house numbers, boundary walls, or electricity connections. These measures aim to curb further encroachments and reduce the risk of flooding in the future.