Delhi flooding deaths: Clamor grows for cracking whip against basement violations in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Clamor is growing for cracking a whip against the basement violations in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) areas to avoid Delhi coaching center-like incidents.

This follows the recent tragedy in Delhi where three UPSC aspirants died due to flooding in the basement of Rau's IAS Study Circle coaching institute.

Several colleges, schools, eateries, medical stories, and automobile showrooms among others are violating GHMC guidelines in Mehdipatnam, Habsiguda, Kukatpally, Narayanaguda, Abids, Panjagutta, Pragathi Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Manikonda, Chikkadpally, Uppal and other parts of the city.

Taking to X, several netizens highlighted the violations they have noticed in their vicinity and expressed their concerns about authorities responding swiftly to suppress unauthorized construction and encroachments while also clearing and cleaning the nalas to prevent such occurrences and fatalities, given the tragedy that transpired in a matter of minutes.

One of the X users told News Meter that an electric two-wheeler company established its assembling and service at an under-construction apartment behind Al Saba Hotel, 7 Tombs Road.

“The building owner is a partner in the company and the basement floods every rainy season; water is pumped out. There is heavy leakage from the ceiling and there is a high risk due to storage of hundreds of lithium batteries in the basement, “ he said and appealed to the concerned authorities to initiate action on the violation.

Another X user Syed Ali said, “From Pillar no 115 to 227 and up to 255 under PVNR expressway numerous buildings and commercial complexes on both sides one can find the irregularities of the GHMC building permission including deviation. Unsecured basements also without fire safety clearance.”

“Entire Mehdipatnam area businesses are run from basements right on the main road. No parking facilities for customers. One example, just below HDFC bank Mehdipatnam one side is a universal book shop and on the other side, it is a plastic ware store,” Sundeep M wrote on his X account.

“What about the illegal constructions, the builders taking permission for three floors and constructing seven to eight floors? Tired of complaining to the competent authorities but no action is taken managed by the builder and the owner what a shame,” said Syed Abdul Hadi.

“Unfortunate that three youngsters have to lose their lives and even then there is no action from our people. As a government official, I should not say this. But it can be anyone tomorrow. All commercial complexes have been occupied in the basement which are supposed to be parking places. And they park the vehicles on the roads. Isn’t that a reason for traffic congestion or roads? What about fire safety? So disgusting that planning and municipal authorities turn a blind eye to all these and leave the lives of people to luck,” said a senior official on condition of anonymity.

GHMC to serve notices before special drive on illegal basements

A senior official from the town planning wing of the GHMC on condition of anonymity told News Meter that apart from demolishing illegal structures mushrooming the city they did not conduct any special drive to demolish the illegal basements under its ambit. When asked about the steps being taken to initiate action against the schools, colleges, and commercial establishments functioning from the basements, he said that parking is the only activity permitted in the basements apart from that any activity comes under violation of the GHMC guidelines.

Asked about any particular reason for not conducting a special drive on the illegal basements, the official said that a shortage of staff was forcing them to avoid a special drive on the illegal basements. A proposal was pending with the government for the recruitment of 200 town planning staff. Once the staff recruited the town planning wing could carry out special drives on the violations.

“Following the recent tragedy in Delhi, we will take up the issue of illegal basements in the city to the notice of GHMC Commissioner Amrapali and serve notices to the violators before carrying out a special drive on them,” he said.