Several unauthorised constructions in Ayyappa Society and Gurukul Trust land in Madhapur were demolished by civic officials a few months ago, but the affected property owners are slyly completing their projects with Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials turning a blind eye to their activities.
Of 88 illegal structures, which were dismantled by the corporation in August, 2011, many property owners not only completed their buildings, but also managed to get electricity and water connections from Central Power Distribution Company Limited (CPDCL) and Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) respectively.
Official sources said a letter was sent to CPDCL and HMWS&SB authorities to stop issuing connections to Ayyappa Society, immediately after razing the structures. As they managed connections, the GHMC zonal commissioner (West Zone) on Wednesday wrote another letter to disconnect electricity and water connections to the illegal buildings. Incidentally, the corporation had constituted an exclusive enforcement wing to monitor unauthorised structures in Ayyappa Society and Gurukul Ghatkesar Trust land immediately after demolitions in August 2011 with a city planner and an assistant city planner. However, the wing has remained on paper with the lack of manpower, equipment and vehicles.
"The wing has not been provided vehicles, workers and equipment to carry out demolitions as mentioned in the order. I have written to officers concerned for that. But we have been coordinating with circle level officers and carrying out demolitions of illegal structures," GHMC city planner A Bhagyavathi told TOI.
The enforcement wing concept was floated to detach local officers from identifying and demolition of unauthorised structures. With the absence of facilities, notices were being issued by respective municipal circles and demolition equipment hired by the engineering wing as and when required. The enforcement wing's job has been reduced to just coordinate between different GHMC arms. "The corporation has identified property owners carrying out internal works in buildings which were dismantled earlier," M Vijayakumar, assistant city planner of Serlingampally, said.
Meanwhile, the Corporation has not initiated any action against officers responsible for the unauthorized structures in Ayyappa Society. A zonal commissioner was surrendered, a city planner was placed under suspension and other town planning wing employees were charged for allowing unauthorized constructions in L B Nagar a couple of months ago.
However, the GHMC has not initiated any action against officers of West Zone. The officials reportedly prepared a note on the role of three zonal commissioners and were planning to send a report to the municipal administration and urban development (MA&UD) department to take action against the erring officers, but no such action was initiated.
Town planning officials admit that illegal constructions, especially high-rise buildings, cannot be built overnight without the knowledge of local GHMC workers. In fact, construction of a multi-storied building takes nearly a year. However, the officials did not bother to stop structures due to pressure from influential persons, including an MLA's son and top government functionaries.
Of 88 illegal structures, which were dismantled by the corporation in August, 2011, many property owners not only completed their buildings, but also managed to get electricity and water connections from Central Power Distribution Company Limited (CPDCL) and Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) respectively.
Official sources said a letter was sent to CPDCL and HMWS&SB authorities to stop issuing connections to Ayyappa Society, immediately after razing the structures. As they managed connections, the GHMC zonal commissioner (West Zone) on Wednesday wrote another letter to disconnect electricity and water connections to the illegal buildings. Incidentally, the corporation had constituted an exclusive enforcement wing to monitor unauthorised structures in Ayyappa Society and Gurukul Ghatkesar Trust land immediately after demolitions in August 2011 with a city planner and an assistant city planner. However, the wing has remained on paper with the lack of manpower, equipment and vehicles.
"The wing has not been provided vehicles, workers and equipment to carry out demolitions as mentioned in the order. I have written to officers concerned for that. But we have been coordinating with circle level officers and carrying out demolitions of illegal structures," GHMC city planner A Bhagyavathi told TOI.
The enforcement wing concept was floated to detach local officers from identifying and demolition of unauthorised structures. With the absence of facilities, notices were being issued by respective municipal circles and demolition equipment hired by the engineering wing as and when required. The enforcement wing's job has been reduced to just coordinate between different GHMC arms. "The corporation has identified property owners carrying out internal works in buildings which were dismantled earlier," M Vijayakumar, assistant city planner of Serlingampally, said.
Meanwhile, the Corporation has not initiated any action against officers responsible for the unauthorized structures in Ayyappa Society. A zonal commissioner was surrendered, a city planner was placed under suspension and other town planning wing employees were charged for allowing unauthorized constructions in L B Nagar a couple of months ago.
However, the GHMC has not initiated any action against officers of West Zone. The officials reportedly prepared a note on the role of three zonal commissioners and were planning to send a report to the municipal administration and urban development (MA&UD) department to take action against the erring officers, but no such action was initiated.
Town planning officials admit that illegal constructions, especially high-rise buildings, cannot be built overnight without the knowledge of local GHMC workers. In fact, construction of a multi-storied building takes nearly a year. However, the officials did not bother to stop structures due to pressure from influential persons, including an MLA's son and top government functionaries.
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