Hyderabad: In a swift move, the state government on Sunday transferred Bhorkhade Hemant Sahadeorao, zonal commissioner, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Khairatabad. He was denied a new posting and was asked to report to general administration department.
The 2018 batch IAS officer’s transfer came a day after the GHMC teams under his jurisdiction demolished two temporary sheds built on the pavement abutting the compound wall of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s residence in Lotus Pond, Jubilee Hills.
The sheds were used by the security personnel of Jagan Mohan Reddy when he was the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh.
The government apparently took a serious view of the zonal commissioner going ahead with the demolitions without informing his superior officials including GHMC in-charge commissioner Amrapali Kata.
Sources told Deccan Chronicle that a Cabinet minister had earlier complained about the illegal structures occupying the pavement, a public place.
Local residents also complained several times to the civic authorities but no action was taken earlier.
A close follower of the minister, who pursued the case with local GHMC officials which finally led to the demolition, stated that there was no need for sheds as Jagan Mohan Reddy was no longer the Chief Minister, and the heavy deployment of forces would discontinue.
On Saturday, the ones who earlier complained regarding the encroachments have also contacted the GHMC officials seeking action, including GHMC Jubilee Hills circle deputy commissioner V. Prashanti and assistant city planner of the circle V. Sampath who in turn informed the ZC and carried out demolitions with his approval.
While the locals appreciated the GHMC move, the government faced criticism from certain quarters that the demolition was carried out at the behest of the top leadership of Telugu Desam which came to power in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
