GHMC cracks down on illegal structures

Rajendranagar: Taking a deterrent action against the encroachments and unauthorised constructions, the GHMC Rajendranagar pulled down a few structures at different locations under its purview. However, action initiated by the officials drew criticism, as the residents questioned the 'selective approach' of the civic body finding fault with its Town Planning wing for leaving out certain violations.

According to official sources, the GHMC Town Planning team of Rajendranagar has demolished a structure at Oora Cheru at Shivrampally and another at Shridevi Colony in the same area sending a strong message to encroachers as well as the violators against taking up construction with any proper permission from the civic body.

On June 4, the GHMC Town planning team took up demolition drive at TNGOs Colony Katedhan where a couple of structures were pulled down allegedly for not having proper permission from the civic body. The previous year also the GHMC Rajendernagar demolished some of the under-construction structures at historic Bam-rukn-ud-dowla lake situated neat National Police Academy, Shivrampally.

"It is totally unjust to demolish few of the structures by the GHMC Town Planning Wing, leaving others untouched. If the officials are really committed to preventing unauthorised constructions, they what they must do is act without any exception and go the whole hog against the old practice.

The officials are totally justified in removing structures on water bodies but they are being selective in demolishing the structures in residential areas on the pretext of unauthorised construction, which is totally unacceptable," said Mohammed Jahingir, Area Sabha Member, Hasan Nagar.

What is more suspicious is the 'selective approach' of the GHMC Town Planning in pulling down the structures in the name of unauthorised construction on Nalas as well as in residential areas. For example, the Oora Cheruu is spreads across one acre and 35 guntas as per the conservative estimation.

However, the water body presently exists only on half acre of area. Here the GHMC Town Planning officials has demolished one structure on Tuesday, while their silence over other structures is raising many an eyebrow. With increased suspicion on who will be the next the fear became more entrenched amidst increased apprehensions.

"It appears that the town planning is totally dancing on the tune of influential people which the lives and sufferings of the poor and middle-class people have thrown to the wind. With the selective approach in pulling the structures in residential areas, it looks the Town Planning officials are operating according to their own whims and fancies.

While the houses of poor people became a soft target, the structures of influential peoples are always standing tall with any objection," lamented Mohammed Zafar Shah, Senior TRS leader from Waddam Gadda, Mailardevpally.

"Though any construction without required permissions or raising structures on water bodies by way of encroachment is considered as 'void ab initio' violations of the GHMC Town planning rules, but with allowing such things to happen by turning nelsons' eye towards the grows violation for a long time what hindsight would develop among the people about the credibility of the GHMC officials," he argued

"The drive against such encroachments and unlawful constructions would go on further. No such construction or encroachments would be allowed on water bodies and Nalas as this may lead to choking of storm water and even detrimental to the environment as well.

Preventive measures are being taken by the GHMC time and again in the past and will continue in future too just to send strong message to such an audacity on the part of violators," said an official of Town Planning.