The city is host to a whopping number of 137 pits dug up for construction of basements, which pose grave danger to human lives and surrounding structures in the event of heavy rains during monsoon season.
According to information shared by GHMC on Wednesday, only 65 trenches are covered by safety measures such as construction of retaining wall and soil strengthening around them. At 51, the maximum number of cellars were dug in Khiratabad Zone, with Jubilee Hills standing out prominently within the zone, and in the city too with its 32 pits.
GHMC Chief City Planner S. Devender Reddy said wherever open cellars are found, the corporation will first issue notices to the builder, and give time for taking safety precautions. After that the trenches will be covered by GHMC using construction debris.