Action against GHMC staff sought for violations

Hyderabad, Feb. 7: No violation of building rules anywhere in the city takes place without the knowledge of the GHMC officials. In fact, they give ideas to the builders on how to violate rules making use of the loopholes in the regulations. This is the general opinion of the public in the city.

In the wake of the collapse of a building at Narayanguda here on Friday, the citizens and civil society organisations demand that the GHMC and Fire services officials be punished for any violation of building and fire safety norms. “It is the officials, in a majority of cases, who allow violation for selfish gains,” they said.

The chairman of the Greater Hyderabad United Resident Welfare Association, Mr V.B.J. Rao Chelikani, said the service rules of government employees should be amended and that they should be prosecuted and jailed if found guilty of allowing violations. Stating that such violations lead to loss of lives, Mr Rao said even the compensation towards loss of property should be collected from the officials. “Unless responsibility is fixed with the officials, any number of G.O.s, rules and regulations cannot be implemented effectively,” he said.

The president of the Srilakshmi New Residential Colonies Association, Qutbullapur, Mr R. Sudhakaran, said the recent fire accident in Park Hospital and the building collapse at Narayanguda supported the view that rules and regulations only remained on paper.

“The corporation should blacklist the builders for violation of building norms. Several builders constructed additional floors after the Building penalisation Scheme (BPS) was announced, and applied for regularisation. What is the use if officials are only suspended?,” he said.

“After some time they rejoin their duties,” Mr Sudhakaran said.