Demolition act begins

• A day after CM KCR’s diktat, officials swing into action
  
• Move seen against Seemandhra politicians, industrialists

Hyderabad: A day after Telagnana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao directed the officials to raze the illegal constructions that have come up in Ayyappa Society on Gurukul Trust lands in Madhapur area of the city, officials swung into action from early in the morning and razed 16 out of the 21 identified illegal constructions.

Serilingampally MLA Arikepudi Gandhi who tried to stop the demolitions was arrested and released later. The TDP MLA alleged that the officials were being selective in their actions. They were leaving the houses belonging to TRS leaders, while demolishing others’ houses. He demanded that the illegal houses be regularised.

The residents of the Society woke up to a chaotic Tuesday morning. Over 200 police personnel landed at the site to deal with any trouble before 8 am to prevent any trouble from plot owners or builders. In the past whenever the GHMC made attempts to demolish the constructions, there was stiff opposition. In view of this, the police on Tuesday made elaborate arrangements. But interestingly, none of the owners or builders was seen at the site.

According to Madhapur DCP Kanthi Rana Tata, two ACPs, 20 SIs and more than 100 constables were deployed at the site. Around 30 persons who created trouble were taken into custody. The GHMC officials formed into five teams under the direct supervision of GHMC Commissioner Somesh Kumar to launch the operations. They deployed huge proclainers to take up the demolitions.

The move is perceived to be aimed at Seemandhra politicians and industrialists who have occupied thousands of acres of land in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts.
The demolitions brought traffic at Madhapur market area to a standstill. Other roads leading to the society were also closed by the police.

Major roads connecting the society were barricaded by the police. Residents and others were forced to take a detour to enter the locality. According to the GHMC Commissioner Somesh Kumar, the Gurukul Trust has about 627 acres in Serlingampally mandal and some of it is under illegal occupation and is caught in legal wrangle. The Ayyappa Cooperative Housing Society has been constructed in about 70 acres were sold to several individuals. The AP High Court on June 24, 2009, had directed the government to maintain status quo in regularising layouts and buildings on the Gurukul Ghatkesar Trust land. The applications for regularisation were rejected as the ownership was under a cloud.

It may be recalled that on Monday, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao held a high-level meeting on encroachment of government lands, Gurukul Trust lands, illegal constructions etc., with Deputy Chief Minister Mahmood Ali, Home Minister Nayani Narsimha Reddy, Excise Minister T Padma Rao, Transport Minister Mahender Reddy, GHMC commissioner Somesh Kumar and other senior GHMC officials and the and police.

While asking officials to follow the High Court directions with regard to Gurukul Trust lands, he instructed them to protect existing lands at any cost and to take police help in the drive against encroachers. Rao told them: “This government will not compromise on such issues. We have to protect government and trust lands at any cost and evict encroachers. We will not allow even an inch of the land to be grabbed,” he told the officials.