GHMC Demolition Drive Met With Public Anger

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) today met with resistance from some of the inhabitants of the illegal structures that were being razed as part of the municipal body's drive to demolish unlawful structures built along storm water drains in Hyderabad.

The police department, which had anticipated the situation, gave protection to the officials as they continued their works expeditiously.

Expressing his anger over the mild tensions between the GHMC officials and the evacuees and owners of the structures, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao urged minister K T Rama Rao not to stop the works, and instead expedite them without fear of retaliation, even if it came from the TRS itself.

This came in after suspicions that several politicians owned illegal establishments along the drains.

The CM also advised the urban development minister to use extra manpower if necessary, and asked him to clear all the storm drains at the earliest.

However, he directed KTR to present relevant documents to the dwellers of the buildings before taking the step. He also suggested that the officials collect all relevant information on the illegal buildings and their inhabitants before bulldozing the settlements, so as to prevent unwarranted demolitions.

KCR issued orders to MLAs and officials of his Party as well as other Parties not to obstruct the drive. He also urged people not to resist the drive, stating that living in such conditions was extremely dangerous.

The CM expressed his astonishment upon finding out that illegal constructions extended for a stretch of about 2 km along the sewer lines passing through the Adarsh Nagar, Shanti Nagar and Deepthi Nagar areas.

The GHMC officials demolished several unlawful constructions at the Shirdi Nagar, Laxminagar, Habsiguda, Gachibowli, Meerpet, Rajendra Nagar, Uppal, Ramanthapur, Kapra, Chaderghat, Serilingampally, Adarsh Nagar, Shanti Nagar and Deepthi Nagar areas, and in many other places.

The State government had formed 24 teams comprising of officials from the GHMC, revenue, irrigation and police departments. Minister KTR was reviewing the situation with the officials simultaneously.