3,000 illegal buildings in Secunderabad Cantonment Board's crosshairs

Hyderabad: The SCB has issued 3,000 demolition notices, of which 155 have been carried out. The prime focus is on major violators, commercial establishments, those who have occupied government land and those with large deviations from the approved plans.

The SCB is regularising minor deviations after collecting penalties from the owners. On Wednesday, four motor service centres were demolished near the Bowenpally check post.

SCB assistant engineer Bala Krishna said, “Two structures at Bowenpally (a shed and a timber depot) were demolished as they occupied B4 land that is under the management of the defence estate officer. Another two structures were demolished at Bapujinagar crossroads for road widening. Some vendors were voluntarily removing their businesses while some others were reluctant; the demolition drive will continue till all the illegal buildings are razed.”

There are three levels of litigation. When a show-cause notice is issued, with one month to vacate, the violators challenge the notice and  go in appeal to the General Officer in Commanding under the provision of the SCB Act.

If there is no relief, they move the civil court for a stay or file a plea in the High Court. There are several cases pending for over 10 years. The current batch of notices were issued by SCB CEO Sujata Gupta in 2014. They are being executed now as several respondents had got stay orders from courts, which have since been vacated.

Over 200 commercial establishments and nine function halls are among the 3,000 establishments, largely located in West Marredpally, Trimul-gherry, Brook Bond Colony, 10B Colony and Bowenpally.