Hyderabad: Layouts approved by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) always have the mandatory ‘green space’ marked in the blueprint. However, in reality, this park space is either sold by developers and built upon, or encroached upon.
Civic rules require each layout to have green space, which includes a recreation space, sports club and park.
In 2016, the High Court took serious note of the neglect of this requirement and asked the GHMC to explain why it was not initiating action against offenders who grab park land.
The court also highlighted the government's apathy in developing lung spaces.
A senior officer in the town planning wing of the GHMC explains that private developers get their layout approved by showing that areas have been reserved for parks or gardens. After getting the sanction to build, they violate the layout development rules. They produce fake plot numbers and get approval for building permission.
Such illegal actions are allowed even though inspections on the ground will bring the wrong doing to light. Town planning inspectors are hand-in-glove with developers.
The GHMC has found that park land in layouts in Rajendra Reddy Nagar (19 acres), Chandanagar, and Serilingampally were converted into plots with fake plot numbers and municipal permission for construction.
There was similar encroachment in Rock Town, Dilsukhnagar, where more than two houses have been constructed in space earmarked for a park.
In November 2016, the High Court, hearing a public interest plea, sought an explanation from the GHMC authorities on their action plan.
A multi-floor building stands in place of park
A most unusual complaint has been filed with the Alwal police station — of a missing park! The complainant, P.M. Sai Prasad, has alleged that a park that should have come up at Golnaka Alwal, is not there. The space adjacent to Plot No 13, Survey No 182 at Golnaka, is marked as green space in the blueprint of the layout but there is no park here.
Mr Sai Prasad says: “The layout was approved by the erstwhile Alwal gram panchayat. The piece of land was divided into 18 plots of 314 square yards each (all sold and constructed). The colony with no name is identified as Golnaka Alwal. Over 300 square yards was allocated for a park. However, in reality, a ground plus three-floor commercial complex has been constructed on that space. There is no name for the building too.”
Mr Sai Prasad filed an RTI in January 2017, about the building and received a reply on February 20 stating that the structure stands in the name of Mr Hanumantha Rao.
“The same day I filed a police complaint and sent it through registered post (the acknowledgement is in possession of this newspaper). The complex was constructed over four or five years ago. I have asked if the said building has been regularised. I am yet to receive an answer,” Mr Sai Prasad said.
When contacted, deputy commissioner A. Ramesh of Alwal Circle-16 office, through an RTI reply (in possession of this newspaper) informed that Door No. 1-11-55/1, Temple Alwal, property tax number 1160105253, stands in the name of one Hanumantha Rao and the tax paid was '24,692 per annum. The officials did not say that the complex was constructed on a parking space but said it would be verified.
Areas under green cover
Green cover in the city
- Major parks: 49 (Total area 266. 91 acre)
- Colony parks: 521 (210.90 acre)
- Tree parks: 288 (176.26 acre)
- Traffic islands, central medians: 159 (Total area 40. 33 acre)
Total: 1,017 (694.4 acre)
