HC issued notices to authorities on high-rise commercial complex near to KBR Park

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Wednesday directed GHMC, HMDA, Telangana state municipal and urban development department, Union Environment and forest ministry and others to submit the details in allowing a high-rise commercial complex near KBR Park at Jubilee Hills, which is in the eco–sensitive buffer zone.

The Division Bench of the Telangana High Court, comprising Chief Justice Alok Aaradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti, was dealing with a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Nandagiri Co-operative Housing Society Limited, represented by its secretary Radhika Prasad Narala, challenging the approval of construction plans for a commercial complex by M/s. Net Net Ventures Private Limited in Shaikpet Village and Mandal.

According to the petitioner, the subject site is at a distance of 30 metres from the KBR National Park and whereas the law prescribing one km all around in the eco–sensitive buffer zone shall be maintained and within the buffer zone, massive constructions for commercial use involving rock mining are prohibited.

K. Raghavacharyulu, representing the petitioner, submitted to the court that the construction firm had taken permission in 2013 for the construction of 5-7 floors of cellars, one ground floor and four upper floors in a total area of four acres 695 cents situated in Survey No. 403 Part Shaikpet village. But it later changed the plan and tried to build 10 upper floors. Now the construction company has already built the seven cellars as per the earlier sanctioned plan in 2013 and now conveniently changed the 7 cellars to 7 stilts as can be seen from the revised plan of 2022.

Further, the counsel also argued that the present estimation area is around 6 lakh feet, which should get approval by the Central Environmental Clearance Authority, whereas this site got approval from the State Environmental Authority only. Apart from the approved plan in 2013, the builders added another plot number 1355 of Jubilee Hills Housing Society to the location and showed the site as the Road no 45 of the Jubilee Hills.

Considering the points raised by the petitioner, the court issued notices to the respondents to submit their contentions within three weeks.