Top

GHMC ignores HC on BRS followup

Officials were told to certify buildings as illegal under the GHMC Act after field-level inspections prior to their demolition.

Hyderabad: Ignoring High Court directions, the GHMC has not demolished a single construction under the Building Regularisation Scheme (BRS) whose deviations exceeded 25 per cent.

The court had directed the corporation last year to undertake field-level inspections and inform it of the number of constructions which did not meet the parameters prescribed under the BRS.

Officials were told to certify buildings as illegal under the GHMC Act after field-level inspections prior to their demolition. Despite this, the corporation has not visited a single illegal structure that had applied under the BRS.

The court also wanted the civic body to use technology and enumerate unauthorised constructions which have mushroomed after the BRS ended. A preliminary survey conducted by the GHMC itself had said that over 70,000 illegal constructions had come after the BRS ended on March 1, 2016.

Asked about the GHMC ignoring court orders, a senior official said they were under pressure of politicians.

The official said demolition drives had been delayed citing scrutiny of applications, the Assembly elections and now the Lok Sabha polls.

The corporation might embark on the scrutiny and demolition of illegal buildings after the LS elections or drag the issue further. The demolition drive was not possible without strong political will, he said.

On the other hand, more than 1.17 lakh BRS applicants have not been able to get their properties regularised because the High Court is hearing a public interest litigation that was filed two years ago. The corporation levies 100 per cent penalty on BRS applicants but is ignoring the illegal structures built after March 1, 2016.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
Next Story