Agitation against construction work
Blasts damaging Rajapushpa Atria
Residents of Rajpushpa Atria on Golden Mile Road in Kokapet took to the streets on Friday to protest against blasting and excavation work being undertaken in a neighbouring plot. The residents claimed the blasts had caused major structural damage in their complex.
Residents told the media that they had complained to the personnel who were overseeing the construction activity on the adjacent plot. “The explosions are very loud and generate a lot of vibrations. One particular time, the food on my plate just fell off due to a blast,” a resident told mediapersons. Another demanded that the erring construction company pay for repairing the damage in Rajpushpa Atria.
Pictures of large cracks in the walls of the building’s cellar went viral on social media. Multiple Twitter users posted the pictures to the handles of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), municipal administration minister, K.T. Rama Rao, and the police, among others. They asked for an investigation into the matter and action against the erring construction company.
Narsingi inspector, G.V. Ramana Goud, said that the residents had lodged a complaint that the blasting has resulted in damage to their apartments. A case has been registered under sections 336 and 427 of IPC, and sections 9 (B) (1) (b) of Explosive Substances Act for the probe, he said. "Cracks were seen at the cellar of the apartment, which said to have occurred due to the blasting,” he said.
Officials from Narsingi municipality said construction permits for high-rise buildings are issued by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Department (HMDA). “The municipality can only issue permits for structures shorter than nine metres. For anything higher than that, it is the HMDA that is the issuing authority,” said the official.
The official said permission to use explosives is given by the mining department in conjunction with the police. Mr Balakrishna, planning director at HMDA, said he was not aware of the matter but said permissions to conduct blasting are given by the police. On being asked what penal action could be taken against the construction company, Mr Balakrishna said he could not comment on it until he learnt more. Mr Rafi Ahmed, joint director in the state mines and geology department, said his department had nothing to do with giving permission for the use of explosives. “It is the superintendent of police and collector that issues an NOC (no objection certificate). For being able using explosives, an applicant has to take this NOC and apply for a permit with the chief controller of explosives, Chennai,” he said. The office is part of the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation.