City Unhappy With GHMC's Illegal Building Permits

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has come under tremendous pressure after being rapped by several institutions and civilians over the crumbling infrastructure in Hyderabad ever since the Nanakramguda building accident that killed five persons and injured several others.

As per reports, many illegal - new, under-construction or dilapidated - buildings are being reported across the city. Surprisingly, most of these buildings have been given permissions under the GHMC purview, which are raising serious concerns. But the municipal body is supposedly denying it and claiming that the permissions were given during the regimes of successive governments.

On Tuesday, a part of the wall including the railing of the Chandralok shopping complex in Secunderabad, under GHMC limits, collapsed. No casualties were reported, but the aggrieved locals called upon an official of the municipal corporation and complained about the building. It is learnt that the building was given a permit of construction a few years ago. The GHMC has taken stock of the situation and promised to initiate action against the officials that had permitted its construction.

As per sources, most of the illegal constructions are being reported in Old City, parts of Secunderabad, Abids and a few other places under greater Hyderabad. Most the illegal structures also have illegal cell towers, and lack sewage facilities and electricity. Locals residing nearby these structures fear that those buildings might collapse anytime, given the poor quality standards and location upon which they have been built.

Amid the recent Nanakramguda and Film Nagar building accident, and the recent raids by the Income Tax department at the residences of a few GHMC officials, several political parties and civilians alike are questioning the depth of corruption within the municipal body.