CHARGES FILED IN NALA SCAM
GHMC engineers, ■ contractors made money with fake bills
The Hyderabad Central Crime Station has filed chargesheets in the Nampally Criminal Court against GHMC engineers and contractors who are alleged to have siphoned off funds meant for clearing the silt in the nalas by falsifying bills.
At least 23 engineers and 27 contractors will now have to face trial for creating fake bills for nala de-silting work. The CCS has collected evidence from the Road Transport Authority on how scooters have been shown as trucks and charged accordingly, and how fake way bills have been produced from weighing bridges.
City police Detective Department DCP Avinash Mohanty said, “Contractors and engineers conspired together and cheated the GHMC. They did not desilt the nalas but claimed bills for doing so. In several instances they used the registration number of a bike or scooter, but mentioned it as a truck and the engineers passed the bills. We have filed chargesheets in the court against all these contractors and engineers of GHMC.” Around `1.8 crore has been illegally paid to contractors with the active collusion of the engineers as part of pre-monsoon work in Khairatabad, Jubilee Hills, Karwan, Mehdipatnam, and Musheerabad.
Warnings have been issued for very heavy rainfall tomorrow, August 30, for all districts of Telangana, including the capital city of Hyderabad.
The twin cities are likely to witness rain or thunderstorm as the southwest monsoon currents are active over the state. A belt of low pressure is strengthening the monsoon currents.
On Tuesday, there was heavy rain in many districts of Telangana.
Following the heavy rainfall over the past few days, the deficit percentage is gradually decreasing.
The state at present has a shortfall of seven per cent for the month of August.
Out of the 10 major districts that cover the newly-formed mandalturned-district, Hyderabad, Warangal and Khammam fall in the surplus zone.
Adilabad, Karimnagar, Mahbubnagar, Medak, Nalgonda Nizamabad, and Ranga Reddy districts are still facing a short fall.
Following forecast incessant rain alerts for Greater Hyderabad, the GHMC staff has been instructed to be vigilant in vulnerable areas.
Action will be taken against old, dilapidated compound walls and retaining walls.
If people living in structurally-weak buildings refuse to vacate them, the GHMC will seal the building.
The civic body had already issued warnings to all builders not to carry out excavation of cellars throughout the monsoon season.
The Municipal Commissioner has warned that strict action will be taken against builders who violate this rule.
In the case of partially dug cellars, the builder/owner has been told to take all precautionary measures such as soil strengthening, nailing etc to ensure safety. All further excavation must be stopped.
Notices will be displayed on dilapidated structures, cautioning people not to move around these structures and in case of vacant buildings, barricades will be erected to prevent the public from entering.