Hyderabad: The state government will seize illegal buildings and layouts that exist after the BRS/LRS deadline of February 29.
The earlier policy of the government was to demolish illegal buildings, but it has now decided to instead seize them. Notices to property owners on the seizure, if they fail to apply for LRS/BRS, are being prepared.
Municipal administration and urban development officials are in the process of framing new rules. The government has also sought legal opinion, and it was informed that this could be done if the Municipal Act was amended.
“The government is of the view that if illegal buildings constructed spending crores of rupees are demolished, it would serve no purpose. If the government takes possession of these, they could be utilised and would generate revenue. However, the Act needs to be amended for that,” said T. Chiranjeevulu, HMDA commissioner.
The government will demolish only those illegal buildings that cause major inconvenience to the public by way of encroaching roads, parks or other public places.
The government had announced BRS and LRS on November 2, 2015, the initial deadline being December 31, 2015. It was extended till January 31 and again till February 29 following representations from various quarters.
However, K.T. Rama Rao, who took charge as MAUD minister recently, announced that February 29 would be the final deadline and ruled out any further extension. He said that the government will deal with all illegal buildings sternly after the deadline.
The government has received only 1.15 lakh applications for BRS and 58,000 for LRS and earned nearly Rs 150 crore towards applications fee. It expects another Rs 1,000 crore towards regularisation fees.
MAUD officials estimate that there are another 75,000 illegal buildings in GHMC limits for which owners haven’t applied for BRS.
High Court advocate C. Damodar Reddy said, “The government needs to amend the GHMC, HMDA and Municipal Act in the Assembly for the purpose. If the Act is amended, the government can seize illegal buildings. It cannot be done by issuing GOs.”
