Hyderabad: Demolition first, re-construction next

Hyderabad: The Bandari layout and the Reddy Avenue at Nizampet are faced with the threat of submergence in the rainy season, as over 1,000 illegal apartments have come up on encroached land in Turka Cheruvu and Amber Cheruvu. During the last monsoon, a cluster of gated communities were flooded due to faulty planning and encroachments to the twin lakes actions that obstructed the natural flow of water to the lakes. 

(After) The state government took help of the Indian Army to evacuate 90 per cent of the residents when the water was at knee-deep level.

With the result, the 4 sq. km area remained submerged for 20 days, and the state government had to evacuate the residents. Builders whose illegal constructions were demolished have not gone away. They were quick to reconstruct the multi-storied buildings. Each such flat is being sold at a discount for Rs 15 lakh without any registration papers. While the GHMC has been able to remove parts of small-time violations.

Mr  Suresh Kumar, a resident of Nizampet, explained, “Reddy Avenue and Bandari layout have come up in the buffer zone of the lake. When the entire 4 square km layout was flooded in September, municipal minister K. T Rama Rao had asked officials to ensure that there would be no further encroachment and constructions. A few days after the mini-flood, GHMC began a demolition drive. But, the builders ignored the warning and, right under the nose of the gram panchayat, engaged in re-construction work. Now, these flats are being sold for Rs 15lakh  each, without registration.”

Nizampet does not fall under the municipal corporation, but under the gram panchayat headed by a TRS Sarpanch. Despite the ban, numerous apartments have come up, and they are up for sale