A fresh controversy has gripped Hyderabad’s real estate sector after officials issued a Pradeep Constructions FTL notice concerning a high-rise project near Raj Bhavan Road, Somajiguda. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has proposed cancelling the building permission after finding that large parts of the structure fall within the Full Tank Level and buffer zone of Hussain Sagar Lake, raising fresh questions about how such approvals were granted in the first place.
What the Pradeep Constructions FTL Notice Reveals
The project, a two-tower group housing development with cellars, stilt parking and seventeen upper floors, has been under the scanner since a joint inspection by HYDRAA, GHMC and revenue officials earlier this week. Authorities examined the site after the Irrigation Department alleged that construction was carried out without its mandatory clearance, a claim that prompted the joint visit led by senior officials from all three departments.
According to officials, no Occupancy Certificate has been granted for the project so far, meaning residents cannot legally move in even if construction is otherwise complete. The show-cause notice, issued under provisions of the GHMC Act, reportedly cites material misrepresentation and suppression of facts at the time the original permissions were sought. HYDRAA has publicly cautioned prospective buyers against booking or occupying flats in the project until the inquiry concludes, a warning aimed at preventing further financial exposure while the matter remains unresolved.
Understanding FTL and Why It Matters
The Full Tank Level refers to the maximum height to which a lake or reservoir can hold water without overflowing its banks. Land within this level, along with a surrounding buffer zone typically extending thirty metres beyond it, is legally protected from construction to preserve the water body’s natural capacity and prevent flooding in surrounding areas during heavy rainfall.
Government orders governing lakes like Hussain Sagar prohibit any building activity within these limits, treating them as no-construction zones regardless of ownership claims. When a project encroaches on FTL or buffer zone land, the construction is considered unauthorised regardless of any local permissions that may have been granted, since such approvals themselves fall outside the law and can be challenged or withdrawn at a later stage.
Impact on Homebuyers and the Road Ahead
For homebuyers who booked flats in the Somajiguda project, many after committing bank loans and personal savings, the notice introduces considerable uncertainty. Until Pradeep Constructions formally responds and GHMC concludes its review, buyers are left without clarity on possession timelines or the legal standing of their investment, with some now questioning whether the flats can ever be legally occupied.
The project had been marketed as a premium residential offering with 3BHK and 4BHK apartments, a clubhouse, swimming pool and gym, spread across roughly two acres close to the lake. Its location, near a stretch already sensitive to environmental scrutiny, has made it one of the more closely watched cases in the city’s ongoing crackdown on FTL and buffer zone violations.
Officials have indicated that all records connected to the original building permission will be reviewed before any final decision on cancellation is taken. Depending on the outcome, buyers could face prolonged delays, financial losses, or the prospect of the project’s permission being revoked altogether, leaving them to pursue refunds or legal recourse against the developer.
A Wider Political Backdrop
The case has also drawn brief political attention, since the developer, Pradeep Reddy Badvelu, has separately been linked to a Janwada farmhouse that BRS leader KT Rama Rao has said he leases. Congress has cited the fresh notice as evidence that HYDRAA’s scrutiny is being applied without exceptions, while BRS leaders are yet to respond specifically to this project.
Conclusion
As the inquiry proceeds, the case underlines the recurring tension in Hyderabad between rapid real estate development and the protection of its lakes and water bodies. For now, the immediate concern remains the fate of the homebuyers awaiting clarity on a project caught in regulatory limbo.
Also read: ‘I’ll Hit the Roads Myself’: CM Revanth Reddy Warns Officials Over Hyderabad Rain Chaos
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