Hyderabad: Begumpet residents celebrate HC order to demolish building on parkland

Hyderabad: Residents of Begumpet rejoiced on Wednesday after winning a two-and-a-half-decade battle for a park, as the Telangana High Court ordered the demolition of a commercial complex on parkland near Intergraph Office. Residents said the land parcel was earmarked as a park in 1986.

“The 600 square yards in Survey 83 No. 194/11 in Plot Nos. S1 and S2 in Indian Airlines Housing Colony, Begumpet, was meant to be one of the three parks by the Andhra Pradesh Housing Board (APHB) as part of the Indian Airlines Employees Housing Society. We fought tooth and nail when two people, who had nothing to do with the Indian Airlines, tried to take it over by paying hefty amounts to various people involved to get permissions,” said Narsoji G., one of the petitioners in the case.

Families began celebrating at what they called a ‘nif week party’ on Wednesday evening for finally getting what “rightfully belonged” to them. “We paid for it with money from our own pockets. We are overjoyed and happy our trust in the judicial system of the country has been restored,” Narsoji said.

Calling it no small victory, his former colleague explained how thousands of colony members turned emotional following the judgment after 25-odd years. “One fifty-nine homes today have hundreds of grownups who couldn't get to be on the park that they needed to play on. But the next generation will,” a former Indian Airlines employee said.

Narsoji recalled how he, his colleague Venkateshwar Rao, and several others ran pillar to post to fight against the illegal encroachment.

“People though power, paisa and politicians would help them, but the truth wouldn't stay hidden for too long. I still remember the number of trips we made to RTI offices, the letters we've written to municipal authorities, vigilance department, their replies confirming it was illegal constructions, unauthorised permissions, etc. We can finally retire in peace,” he said.