The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on Saturday demolished 63 structures identified as encroachments or obstructions on storm water drains. The municipal body said the demolition drive will continue to clear bottlenecks to water movement in these drains.
Flooding of the city following rains during monsoon, often sees the government draw flak for failing to prevent encroachments over nalas. This year, the city received record rainfall on a few days that caused heavy water-logging on roads.
Though the GHMC engaged personnel promptly to clear roads, some areas like Ramanthapur, remained flooded for days. After an assessment of the number of encroachments on key drains and in lake beds, the GHMC took up a special drive on Saturday.
Special drive
According to a press note issued by the municipal body, structures were removed in all zones of the city. These included 172 compound walls, 218 sheds, 179 single storey structures, 117 double storey and another 50 three-storey buildings and 22 four-storey structures, according to the statement.
In North Zone, structures were cleared in MES Colony, Venkatapuram, Alwal and NMDC Colony as well as in Malkajigiri, which frequently gets flooded. In Central Zone, constructions were removed along Mohini Cheruvu at Bapu Nagar, Amberpet, and Malakunta Lane near Abids.
Encroachments identified in Serilingampally, Nalla Cheruvu, Prashanth Nagar nala and Rajeev Nagar areas in Kukatpally were cleared by West Zone staff.
South Zone staff cleared encroachments from Old City areas along Murki nala at Uppuguda and Shivaji Nagar, as well as those along Zohra Bee Dargah nala and in Al-Jubail Colony.
Other encroachments
The GHMC plans to demolish another 700 structures identified by the revenue and municipal administration departments. The drive will resume on Monday, sources said.
A government order was issued on Friday on the compensation for the affected. Telangana government has released over ₹200 crore for payment of compensation to families affected by the drive.
No hindrance
It was also learnt that Municipal Administration Minister K.T. Rama Rao directed the corporators of the GHMC not to obstruct the demolition work. The government has also assured housing for below poverty line families displaced by the drive.