PIL on Vertex Nala Land Grab

Hyderabad:The Telangana High Court will take up for hearing, a PIL which complained that Vertex Homes Pvt. Ltd had allegedly encroached upon a nala and reduced its width in Nallagandla while developing the Vertex Kingston Park project.

The PIL also complained about the inaction of the authorities in preventing and removing encroachments and illegal constructions over the surplus nala passing through Nallagandla in Serilingampally mandal.

According to the PIL, GO Ms No. 168 dated 07.04.2012 mandated preservation of every nala with a minimum width of eight metres along with two-metre buffer zones on either side, making a total minimum protection zone of 12 metres. This prescription is mandatory to prevent inundation of surrounding colonies and to safeguard the free and unobstructed flow of rainwater into the lakes or tanks.

Vertex Homes Pvt. Ltd, while developing the Vertex Kingston Park project, is alleged to have reduced the nala width to about 5 metres, constructing an RCC slab over a stretch of about 45 metres, dumping debris into the watercourse, and occupying inam and government land. The petition contended that these actions had caused stagnation of stormwater and flooding in nearby residential areas such as Doctors’ Colony, Gulmohar Colony and Netajinagar.

J. Shankar and another filed the PIL seeking directions to cancel illegal registrations, stop further constructions, demolish unauthorised structures and restore the nala to its original condition. The High Court Registry had earlier stated administrative objections to the PIL. On Monday, a division bench headed by the Chief Justice directed the registry to give a regular number and list the case.