EC puts spanner into relief to project-affected families

HYDERABAD, OCT. 27

The State Election Commission has asked all nodal agencies that are executing major infrastructure projects in the city not to pay compensation to project affected families.

It stated that if the families are paid compensation, they would be asked to vacate the property immediately. This would result in a change of address and they could be displaced to a different constituency.

This would give a scope from political parties to claim that paying compensation and displacing voters was meant to influence them.

The SEC has allowed the nodal agencies to acquire land and seek consent but not pay compensation until the completion of the election process.

Against this backdrop, GHMC sources said that ongoing infrastructure projects will not see much progress in the next six

If compensation is paid to the project affected families, they would be asked to vacate the property and shift to a different location which result in change of address.

This would give a scope to raise the objections from political parties.

weeks, and commuters will have to bear the inconvenience.

The civic body has been executing the flagship Strategic Road Development Plan at 54 junctions and nala widening. Besides, the corporation has been acquiring properties for the elevated corridor at Uppal and a flyover at No 6 Junction in Amberpet. The HMDA is working on the Balanagar flyover.

Under the SRDP, the corporation will construct seven skyways, develop 11 major and 68 minor corridors and 54 grade separators at an estimated cost of `25,000 crore. Out of the total project cost, more than 30 per cent is earmarked for compensation. The nodal agencies have to acquire more than 2,000 properties and huge chunks of land. Paying compensation would be the last step to take up the construction.

A senior official said the GHMC following the Election Commission's instructions would only seek consent from property owners. He said consent would the GHMC the right to raze the structure or acquire the land.

The official said that apart from the Election Commission’s instructions, work would be delayed as the staff had been deployed on the election duty. He said the citizens have to bear the inconvenience till after the conclusion of the elections due to ongoing infrastructure projects at multiple locations.