GHMC fails to curb illegal encroachments in city
In the wake of the mini floods in 2016, the GHMC was to dismantle the encroachments on crucial nalas. But 11 months later, it has managed to dismantle just 853 encroachments of the 3,150 that were on the demolition list. Some 2,297 structures that have narrowed down the storm water drains are still standing.
Out of 25 prime storm water drains that connect the city to the Musi, the GHMC has not cleared 14. The Balkapur and Hussainsagar surplus nala and the Banjara Hills nala have narrowed considerably, than-ks to the unchecked gro-wth of illegal buildings.
The mini floods episode of September 2016 was repeated on August 25 this year. The same areas — Bandari layout in Quthbullapur, and Deepthi Sree Nagar in Madinaguda — were inundated because the GHMC did not carry out the work it was supposed to.
The stormwater drain running from Fox Sagar in Jeedimetla to Fathehnagar (chemical nala) in Quthbullapur circle has 184 obstructing structures. A GHMC survey identified an illegally constructed multi-storied vacant building at Subash Nagar, owned by Malkajgiri MP Ch. Malla Reddy, in the buffer zone of Fox Sagar.
The drain from Kapra cheruvu to Nagaram cheruvu in the Kapra circle has 220 illegal buildings. The nala from Kalaniketan to River Musi has 110 blocks, obstructing the flow of water.
The municipal authorities couldn’t remove a single structure at Banjara Hills, Yellareddyguda, Punjagutta, Yousufguda, Nagamaiahkunta, Kalasiguda, Dandu mansion, Gandhi nagar and six other localities. The excuse is that encroachers have approached the court and got a stay, or there is a stiff resistance from encroachers, or they are not willing to be shifted and rehabilitated.