Hyderabad: Despite a ban on cellar excavations during the monsoons, some builders are still digging up cellars ahead of the rains. A site where cellar construction had started opposite GVK Mall- Banjara Hills was fined by the GHMC central zone.
Also, there is another cellar in the same locality, which was dug up and left open. The corporation has issued notices and sealed the premises.
In the earlier monsoon seasons, many deaths were reported after the excavated cellars collapsed. Apart from Banjara hills, another locality where excavations are on is at Sree Bakery- Alwal.
Mr G. V Rao, the complainant said, “The cellar construction was done without any permission, right on the main road. When the residents issued a complaint to the GHMC, a warning notice was issued and the owner was quick to stop the work, but he didn’t fill up the cellar.”
A water pump was sealed by the officer on Special Duty- GHMC, Mr. Satynarayana and team, at a construction site opposite GVK Mall, Banjara Hills. Water was being pumped out on the roads causing damage to it. The sites had valid papers for construction from the GHMC Head Office, and had also taken proper safety measures like surrounding the area with barricades and leaving a 6-meter space all around the construction, but they were emptying out water onto the main road.
Mr. Satyanarayana the Special Duty Officer said, “The construction site would be charged a penalty for the construction of a cellar in the monsoons and also for causing damage to the roads by letting out water on them.”
There are many such examples where penalties have been charged, like Rs. 5,000 was charged on Hotel Swagath Grand at Banjara Hills and Rs 40,000 was slapped on the Mercedes – Benz showroom for pumping water onto the roads as it amounted to damaging public property.
