Telangana Govt Gives Free Hand to GHMC on Demolition of Illegal Structures

Hyderabad: Telangana government on Tuesday called for expediting repair works on the roads in the city which were damaged in the heavy rains recently, even as it asked the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to carry out demolition of illegal constructions without any pressure. Telangana Minister for Municipal Administration KT Rama Rao and Chief Secretary Rajiv Sarma held a meeting with the officials of the GHMC, who apprised them of the condition of the roads in the city following the rains, according to a release. KTR told the GHMC officials not to bow to any pressure in carrying out the demolition of unauthorized constructions in the city.

The Chief Secretary said the government would extend all help to the GHMC on the matter. The unauthorized constructions on drainage systems and lakes blocked the outlet for flood water during the heavy rains. It led to inundation of several residential localities and complexes in the city. Sarma also directed that engineering staff from other departments should be roped in the effort to improve the condition of the roads.

Mission Demolition

GHMC is conducting a demolition drive against unauthorized constructions that came up in the city on lakes and drainage systems, causing flooding in several areas. GHMC officials on Tuesday demolished illegal structures on nalas at Miyapur, Diptisri nagar, Begumpet, Allamthota baavi, Gachibowli, Meerpet, Rajendra Nagar, Uppal, Ramanthapur, Kapra, Chadarghat and Sherilingampalli. Some structures in Panchasheela Enclave in Alwal were also demolished.

Officials identified a lawn developed over 650 square yards place along a nala on Road number 11 in Banjara Hills and demolished it.

Gaurav Uppal, Central Zone Commissioner, is leading the demolition works here. He said the officials identified another auauthorized four-storeyd building and this will also be demolished soon. Banjara Hills Inspector Srinivas has arranged the security for GHMC officials.

With no outlet to go due to the unauthorized constructions, several residential localities and complexes in the city faced heavy inundation following incessant rains during last week. GHMC officials identified illegal structure spreading two kilometers along nalas in Adarshanagar, Shanthinagar, Deepthisri nagar. An illegal building located near PV Express Way at Aaramghar was also demolished. Several unauthorized structures in Malkajgiri, Shiridinagar, Habsiguda, Laxminagar demoloshed by the officials. A compound wall under construction at Ramanthapur pedda cheruvu was also demolished.

The rains wrecked havoc with the city’s civic infrastructure and consequently, several IT and other companies had asked their employees to work from home. The heavy rains that lashed the city and Telangana during last week have now subsided, much to the relief of the residents.

The GHMC said demolition of 13 dilapidated buildings, eight unauthorised constructions on drainage systems, three unauthorized constructions on lakes and 15 unauthorized constructions were taken up Monday.

KTR, who held a review on the situation arising out of heavy rains in municipal bodies, directed demolition of unauthorized constructions on tanks and drainage systems in the municipalities in the state. He also directed digitization of data of tanks and drainage systems. He said municipal commissioners would be held responsible if any human lives are lost due to collapse of dilapidated buildings.