GHMC gets monsoon ready

Identifies 575 buildings that are structurally unfit; residents told to vacate

Hyderabad: As part of the monsoon action plan, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has identified 575 buildings that are structurally unfit and initiated measures to avoid loss of life and property. Among the buildings identified, 231 have already been demolished and 129 were either sealed, repaired or vacated. Residents in the remaining 215 buildings were asked to vacate and take immediate measures like strengthening the structure.

The GHMC officials said that they were unable to take concrete measures where the property was under dispute. “Several tenants living in the structurally unfit buildings, which are yet to be sealed, had property disputes with owners following which they approached the court. They are showing us the court directions when we ask them to move out at least till monsoon ends,” said an official.

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In some localities, the civic body officials along with public representatives and locals are counseling the residents who are staying in dilapidated buildings. “Pointing towards untoward incidents that might happen during downpour, we counseled several people living in dilapidated buildings,” said another official. Post-counseling, civic body officials barricaded the old buildings and in case of most dangerous structures, people were cautioned not to move around in it.

Another measure taken up by the GHMC to avoid untoward incidents during downpour is to prevent excavations during monsoon season. The municipal corporation has imposed a ban on cellar excavations in the city. At places where cellar excavation was underway, instructions were issued to property owners/ people living in the structure to take precautionary measures like soil strengthening, construction of retaining wall, barricading the site etc.

During an inspection done by GHMC employees to identify dilapidated buildings, some cellars were found to be already excavated. At such sites, the safety of surrounding structures was checked and people in that building were asked to take safety precautions. At the sites where debris was spotted, owners were asked to call the GHMC- 040 241111111 to dispose of the construction and demolition waste. “Criminal cases will be booked if there is non-compliance of instructions,” said a senior official. In sloppy terrains in Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills, officials have been asked to vacate people living in temporary shelters located near retaining walls of other structures.

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