GHMC squads continue felling illegal structures on third day

Hyderabad, Sept.28: Empowered by the State government, the GHMC officials continued demolition of unauthorized structures in the twin cities in the third consecutive day. All the 18 multi-disciplinary demolition squads went on razing the illegal structures simultaneously in 24 circles under GHMC limits. Escorted by police personnel, the GHMC officials on Wednesday continued demolition operations in Ramanthapur, Gacchibowli, Kondapur, Gokul Flats, Indiranagar, Manjira road, Matrusri Nagar, Suraksha colony and so on. Several structures were demolished in various parts of the city as demolition squads are going hammer and tongs at illegal constructions on lakes and canals. Curiously, several government buildings were also found to be unauthorized structures, partly. The Telangana Tourism department has encroached 24 acres of Ramammakunta lake bed at Gachibowli. At Patancheru, the GHMC itself had violated norms as it built a kilometer-long walking track on the bed of the tank. National Green Tribunal stayed this construction of the track also. The GHMC officials removed illegal structures on nalas in Vivekananda Nagar in Kukatpalli. The demolition works carried out on Road No 2 in KPHB, on which GHMC received several complaints earlier. Some illegal structures along the PVNR Expressway were also demolished by the GHMC squads. GHMC Commissioner Janardhan Reddy held a review meeting on Wednesday. Officials briefed the Commissioner that over 300 unauthorized structures were demolished during the past two days. Demolition Squads hammered down illegally constructed buildings, floors, pillars across the nalas in Kawadiguda, LB Nagar and other parts of the city. GHMC helpline received over 120 complaints so far regarding illegal structures. Meanwhile, the Telangana government has started making arrangements for accommodating poor families, who were living in illegal structures, in JNNURM and Vambey flats. It was estimated that 3,640 flats are ready for rehabilitation. The GHMC also deployed its manpower to restore city roads on a war-footing as it roped in engineering department. Over 30 engineers are monitoring the restoration works. According to the fresh estimates, the recent heavy rains damaged roads at 1,200 places stretching over 1,78,973 metres.