Illegal rock-blasting at Banjara Hills

• Residents annoyed at disturbing blasts going on for some time now

• Nexus between cops and builders alleged

Residents at Road Number 12, Banjara Hills, on Tuesday morning, heard a loud, rattling explosion. A rock was blasted in the area by a builder which startled the residents.

A company named AMN Infra and Realty Private Limited is undertaking construction activity in the area for the past few months and is blasting rocks in the area, which is illegal. The irony is that the place of construction is hardly a few yards away from the office of the Anti- Corruption Bureau.

“The unabated rock blast is not only been disturbing my normal work but has also dented peace and serenity in the locality,” fumed Raghunandan, a resident of the area.

The issue was brought to the notice of the Jubilee Hills police station on several occasions. After several calls, a FIR (Number 1004 /2013), was filed and a few petty labourers were arrested and later released on bail. The builders, Mahendra Agarwal and Naveen Agarwal, have not been arrested so far. They also have not been called for questioning to the station.

On checking with the Commissioner’s office, it was revealed that there was no legal permission at the site for blasting the rocks. The permission for using explosives for blasting rocks is given by the Commissioner’s office only. Satyanarayan, DCP, west zone, said, “We have filed a FIR and one person has been arrested. The supervisor is absconding.” When questioned as to why the builder was not arrested, the DCP said that he would check with his officers.

The neighbours on condition of anonymity said, “It is disturbing to learn about the strong and unhealthy nexus between builders and police machinery. That nexus has been growing which is the reason for the builder’s audacious behavior. The builder blatantly claims that the construction of 10,000 square yards at the site can be completed by making huge pay offs on a regular basis to the authorities concerned.”

The work at the site has not stopped for a single minute and blasting of rocks is being carried out as usual, without any break.

A nearby tea vendor who supplies tea to the labourers at the site claimed, “On the day of rock blasting, the Rakshak van was seen parked a few 100 metres from the vicinity near the rock blasting site. On several occasions, the police officers and the builders were seen shaking hands.”

Another neighbor, who was very disturbed, said, “The builders are very powerful and we find ourselves helpless. The welfare of the general public is largely impacted. Law and order machinery is taken for a good ride.”

Maharishi (name changed), said, “I along with my neighbours have become aggrieved and are helpless now.”

It may not be generally known, but there is a law in existence regulating the manner in which rock-blasting should be carried out in this city.