Hyderabad: Irregularity in inspection due to staff crunch'

Hyderabad: The manner in which structural stability certificates are issued for hoardings can be gauged from the fact that during the last one year, three hoardings in the central zone of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation that collapsed had structural stability certificates.

Civic authorities claim that due to a staff crunch they cannot inspect every hoarding. Empanelled agencies that issue structural stability certificates to advertising agencies are doing so without inspecting the hoarding. In fact, sources in advertising agencies admit that the empanelled agencies certify the hoardings for  Rs 5,000, without any field inspection. 

The three hoardings that collapsed during the past year had structural stability certificates, and yet toppled when there was moderate rainfall. While two hoardings collapsed at Vimal Theatre in Balanagar and near the Water Works office at Banjara Hills, the other hoarding that collapsed at S.G.M. Mall in Mehdipatnam was declared as unauthorised by officials.