When Will The GHMC Wake Up From Its Slumber?

Except for occasionally reacting and issuing statements, GHMC officials have failed to realize the threat posed by several dilapidated buildings across the city.

Hyderabad | 2nd August 2013

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Two tragedies and 23 deaths in less than one month have failed to wake up the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation from its slumber.

Except for occasionally showing timely reaction and issuing statements with statistics, GHMC officials have failed to realize the threat posed by several dilapidated buildings across the city.

While the City Lights Hotel building collapse on July 8 resulted in the death of 17 people, six hut-dwellers were killed in a wall collapse at Moula Ali on July 23.

On both the occasions, GHMC officials cited different reasons for the tragedies, to hide their negligence. They had, in fact, failed to locate or identify the weak structures, and secondly, they did not demolish them despite knowing that they pose serious threats to the lives of common people.

However, immediately after these incidents, statements were issued saying that all weak buildings would be demolished without any delay.

According to the GHMC, it has demolished 361 dilapidated buildings, while 654 weak structures were identified.

Further, there are several other weak buildings which are yet to make it to the GHMC's list of dilapidated structures.

This means that more than 300 to 500 tragedies are waiting to happen in the city.

For instance, the dilapidated structure in this picture is located at Shalibanda Road. Hundreds of people move on the road, while several others gather at a famous Haleem-eatery outlet nearby. One can imagine the intensity of the tragedy if this building does collapse during rush hour.

Strangely, this weak structure stands at a distance of less than one kilometer from the GHMC South Zone headquarters.

There are several other cases that show the negligence of the GHMC officials in taking action against weak structures. If no immediate action is taken, then we can only wait for more tragedies to happen. (INN)

filed in: GHMC, Building Accidents, Deaths