GHMC to ban cellar excavations till August

​Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has decided to ban cellar excavations in the city till August. The civic body decided to issue notices to all the ongoing construction works with immediate effect. Officials said the corporation took this decision in order to minimise the loss of life during the onset monsoon.

According to GHMC official, before cellars are excavated, the civic body had instructed the ground level staff would strengthen measures and remove old compound walls, take necessary measures needed for sloped terrains, and shift hut dwellers/temporary structures on the side of retaining walls to other areas.

The official said the ban will come with immediate effect and will continue till August. He also said the ban will be further extended depending on the monsoon. When queried about the same, a senior town planning wing official told The Hans India that the corporation had so far accorded permissions for 60 cellar excavations. He said keeping in view of the unfortunate incidents that took place last year, the civic body had decided to stop cellar excavations from June to August starting from this year.

Besides this, the GHMC official further said the corporation had decided to file criminal cases against owners who do not demolish dilapidated structures prior to the onset monsoon. He said the corporation is yet to demolish 828 dilapidated structures.

He said the corporation will issue notices this week to owners who were residing in dilapidated structures. He said during phase I the corporation will give counselling, phase II will issue notices to dilapidated building owners and in phase III civic body will demolish the structures. He said if the residents did not co-operate the GHMC will file criminal cases.