Secunderabad hotspots face the axe

Secunderabad Cantonment Board’s (SCB) demolition drive has been on for over a month now. The board has now zeroed in on razing popular unauthorised shops and malls to the ground. They warned that there are many such establishments in the city which are running without a trade license and would be subjected to demolition if they do not come clean quickly

Anil Trading Company and Wishes and Dreams, are two stores in Trimulgherry which is a landmark in Secunderabad. Both these shops were seized and sealed on Friday by the SCB. The board mentioned that the establishments were running without a trade license and were sealed as per the provisions of Section 277 of the Cantonment Act, 2006.

Both these businesses are the first victims of the ongoing demolition drive by the SCB. They have been running their business for over five years. The board mentioned that they encroached the footpath on the main road, which was being used as a parking spot. The board also blocked the main drainage line in the cellar, leading to overflow of sewage water on the main roads.

The authorities, in their previous inspections, had advised them, apart from other ventures in the vicinity, to obtain trade licences and also issued notices to them. But since no action was taken, the board has now decided to close and seize such ventures. The SCB is determinedto bring them to books to ensure orderliness.

Sujatha Gupta, chief executive officer, SCB, appealed to the business establishments to come forward and regularise their businesses as per the norms. She added that unauthorised structures erected in violation of the sanction plan, shops running without trade licences, cell towers being erected on buildings and apartments without approval from the SCB, illegal tapping of drinking water would be dealt with an iron fist. She vowed to put an end to this menace on a war-footing basis.