State clueless on action against builder for complex on its land

The state government is clueless on implementing a recent interim order of the High Court in a case that revolves around the alleged encroachment of prime government land.

When the authorities concerned refused to issue an occupancy certificate to a huge residential complex in Gachibowli stating that part of the structure had come up on government land, the HC said that the government can grant the OC on receiving a deposit of `1 crore.

Dealing with a writ petition (WPMP No 46096/2012) Justice Nooti Ramamohana Rao gave a direction that pending further consideration of the WP and “subject to the petitioner depositing `1 crore with the CCLA,” the respondents (the GHMC) may grant the OC.

Inquiries revealed that the city-based Pruthviraj Constructions had built an 118 apartment complex in Survey No 79, Gachibowli.

“We refused to issue the occupancy certificate after the Ranga Reddy district authorities informed us that part of structure was built on the adjacent government land,” GHMC chief city planner Mr G.V. Raghu told this newspaper.

A survey by the Ranga Reddy revenue authorities of government land located in Sy. no. 91, found that land was encroached.

Meanwhile, the builder completed construction and the flat buyers occupied the premises even without the GHMC issuing the occupancy certificate.

Maintaining that the value of the land was high, Ranga Reddy Collector A. Vani Prasad recommended legal initiatives against the interim order to protect government’s interest.

When contacted, Mr S.M. Reddy of Pruthviraj constructions said that the complex was built under a joint development model on land owned by several individuals.