Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority officials on Monday razed 22 villas that were illegally constructed in SRK Green Park venture at Bowrampet in Medchal-Malkajgiri.
A total of 197 villas were built in this venture spread over 14 acres. According to K. Purushotham Reddy, Director, Planning, HMDA, this venture was built illegally and the builder violated rules.
“This land is a conservation zone and should be used for agriculture purpose. Instead of obtaining permission from HMDA, the builder approached the Gram Panchayat, which is not authorised to give permission for such ventures. When we served notices, the builder went to court, which imposed '1 lakh penalty for each villa besides directing the villa owners to apply for LRS. While individual owners applied for LRS, the builder appealed against the judgement and got an interim order. After HMDA presented facts, the court vacated the order and issued notices again,” he said.
All the 22 villas, each valued at nearly '50 lakh, are the share of villagers who gave the land for development to the builder who had kept them in the dark about the whole issue, he said.
The planning director warned landlords on city outskirts not to give their lands to builders, who are found to flout norms.
The demolition drive began at 8.30 am and continued for the whole day. Meanwhile, BJP vice-president Dr S. Malla Reddy stated that the landlords, all of them farmers, paid the price and it was not their fault.
“The landlords were not aware of the issue. Why to target them for the fault of builder. They only got to know on Monday and were ready to pay Rs 1 lakh for each villa in an hour’s time, but HMDA staff did not pay heed to their pleas,” he rued.
