Hyderabad: While the authorities’ focus currently is on the Gurukul Trust land, where another eight under-construction structures were knocked down on Wednesday, the city has many such societies, especially in the peripheral areas, LB Nagar, Kukatpally, Hitec City, Uppal, Hafeezpet, S.R. Nagar, Ameerpet etc. These places are considered hubs of unauthorised buildings.
Like in the case of the Ayyappa Society, hundreds of unauthorised buildings have been constructed on disputed land at Gokul Plots area in Hafeezpet, allegedly aided by local politicians, and the GHMC has done nothing about them. It is the same at L.B. Nagar and parts of Kukatpally, where the politicians are hand-in-glove with the town planning officials.
“Since the GHMC has not been giving building construction approvals, some realtors, with the help of town planning authorities and local politicians, including corporators and local MLAs, complete the construction. That apart, private builders cheat people by first selling the third, fourth or fifth floors for lesser price when the permission is only for ground-plus-two floors,” said Naga Babu, a resident of Hafeezpet.
Most of the buyers are from a middle-class background and the builder helps them get bank loans. However, the buyers often are unaware that the building has been constructed on disputed land. In 2013, the GHMC had issued a caution notice against buying plots on disputed land after some people started selling land by getting documents notarised.
GHMC commissioner Somesh Kumar said, “Currently the GHMC is focusing on fresh constructions. Letters have been written to APCPDCL and the Water Board asking them not to provide electricity and drinking water lines. A detailed report — house and plot wise — is being prepared of government lands being occupied; the revenue department as well is working on a similar report, based on which action will be initiated.”
