CM Revanth’s statement on Govt permissions puts question mark on earlier demolitions

Revanth Reddy's statement has raised concerns among house owners with valid permits, as many remain homeless after previous demolitions despite having secured all necessary permissions

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s statement that house owners and builders with government permissions need not worry about demolitions has thrown up a big question. What about those whose houses and structures were demolished despite them having secured all permissions? Many of them are still homeless, having cried and pleaded with government officials, showing their documents and begging not to demolish their homes.

On Sunday, HYDRAA too said the Chief Minister’s directive would be strictly adhered to.

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“All the real estate ventures with legally valid permissions have nothing to fear. False news is being spread that HYDRAA will demolish structures near lakes, even those legally permitted by competent authorities. The Chief Minister has categorically stated that no structure with valid permissions will be demolished. HYDRAA will strictly adhere to this directive,” HYDRAA posted on its official X handle.

And this has triggered questions. So, why was the house of Satyanarayana, a resident of Ameenpur, demolished just a week after his housewarming ceremony, even when he had cried inconsolably, telling the authorities that he had all government clearances. Many of the villas in Patelguda and apartments in Kistareddypet under Ameenpur Municipal limits that were demolished along with his house had clearances, according to the owners, who had then itself pointed out that the officials should be held responsible since they had given all clearances.

Remember Raju’s tears? A resident of Beeramguda, Raju had pleaded with the officials not to demolish his house, since he had a sale deed, gram panchayat permission and even house number given by the authorities.

Remember the tears of the physically challenged, children and women who were shocked in their sleep when over 75 houses were demolished at Adarsh Nagar, Christianpally in Mahbubnagar on August 29. Mahbubnagar municipal and revenue officials, claiming the structures were illegal, had demolished the structures at 3 am. The residents had pattas, which they said, were issued by the previous Congress government.

Even former Congress MP Pallam Raju brother’s sports venture at Shankarpally was demolished despite having all permissions. “⁠Demolition done without notice and without consideration of prior permissions and clearances,” Pallam Raju had said then on X.

So if Revanth Reddy says now that structures with government permissions will not be demolished, what about the structures that were demolished despite having clearances? The debris is still strewn around at most of these locations and the lives of the people who lived in them in complete disarray.