Hyderabad: An open plot in Basheerbagh is giving sleepless nights to the locals. The plot has turned into a home for rats, bandicoots and stray dogs, who make a racket in the area, at night. Harried resident Md Abdul Samad said, “This plot has been lying vacant for the past several years. Five years ago, a person started construction of a cellar. However, the works were halted by the GHMC, saying he did not have the permission to construct a cellar.”
“From the time, that the owner left the half-constructed cellar, it has given way to numerous problems for the residents. Garbage is dumped there by everyone, and the smell from it is unbearable. Recently, a drainage pipeline broke in our area and the waste water found its way into the open plot, which also added to the stench. It is only lately, that the issue was solved by workers of Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB),” he said.
Another resident, Mr P. Kiran Kumar, said, “The situation becomes worse as the rainy season begins. Water gets accumulated in this open plot and the existing garbage adds to the woes of the residents. We have complained to the GHMC about this, but they are unable to take action because the details of the owner are not available.” When contacted, deputy commissioner of GHMC, central zone, Ms. Vijayalaxmi said, “We have been receiving requests from the residents, but we don’t have the details of the owner. Else, we could have levied an open-plot vacant-tax on him.”
“This is not a public place. It’s not the responsibility of the GHMC to keep the premises of an individual clean. It’s for him to do so. We have also pasted a notice on the plot that whoever owned the land should keep it clean. We got no response, however. ”
