Following the instructions of Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on Monday demolished many illegal constructions, that were built on drains.
The Times of India reported:
Civic authorities razed 39 structures, of which 11 were unauthorized constructions on lake beds or nalas. They also demolished 15 constructions for deviating from the sanctioned plan. In addition to unauthorized constructions, the officials also pulled down 13 dilapidated buildings in various parts of the city.
"Teams comprising personnel drawn from the town-planning, engineering, police and revenue officials took up the demolition drive in a bid to prevent fresh floods...We have set up multi-disciplinary demolition teams and enforcement squads in all circles. We have removed constructions along the Musi as well. We are focusing on demolishing illegal structures on parks, tanks, footpaths and nalas," GHMC commissioner B Janardhan Reddy told TOI.
The Deccan Chronicle reported that even major realtors were guilty of encroachment in various parts of the city.
The DC report states:
NSK Constructions’ multi-storey building at Madinaguda owned by realtor Chandra Shekar Azad, the Banjara Fun-ction Hall and Maram Constructions at L.B. Nagar, Venkatapuram Colony, are examples of realtors encroaching on the nalas. The illegal sections of all these buildings were demolished on Monday during the GHMC’s demolition drive.
Earlier, KCR, as the Telangana chief minister is commonly known as, told reporters after a review meeting that 25 flying squads will be constituted to clear 28,000 encroachments on 'nalas' as they were obstructing the flow of storm water, leading to flooding of roads and residential areas even during light or moderate rains.
The chief minister made it clear that the government will go ahead with the drive and interference of any minister, lawmaker or any other politician will not be tolerated.
Alleging that previous governments allowed the encroachments on drains and in lakes, he sought cooperation from people, all political parties and media. If poor had encroached 'nalas' and built houses, they will be provided houses under double bed-room house scheme of the government, he said.
Meanwhile, the GHMC has reportedly sought additional staff to help out with the razing of constructions.
The Hindu reported:
GHMC Commissioner B. Janardhan Reddy on Sunday wrote to DTCP (Directorate of Town and Country Planning) to send additional staff on deputation to be a part of the demolition drives. The Commissioner has requested for 40 building inspectors and town planning supervisors. Mr. Reddy also wrote to the State government to fill up vacant posts in the town planning wing through exams conducted by the TSPSC. Of the total strength of 268, the wing has only 76 staffers.
The report also adds that the Ranga Reddy collector has been asked to make temporary arrangements for poor residents until double bedroom houses were ready.