Win for residents: GHMC demolishes illegal building in Miyapur Matrusri Nagar park

Hyderabad: In a big win for environmental activists, the GHMC officials on 21 October demolished the illegally raised colony association building in a public park at Matrusri Nagar in Miyapur.

The demolishment took place within 24 hours of the writ appeal filed by the colony association asking to stay the demolishment.

However, the GHMC has left the temple built by the colony association in the same park untouched. Hyderabad-based civic activist Vinay Vangala, who filed the petition, said the contempt case will continue until every illegal structure, including the temple, is removed from the park and it is turned into a lung space.

On the GHMC's action, Vinay said, "It's over four years of efforts to save this urban lung space. GHMC has failed to act on this encroachment within 15 days as per Citizens Charter and colluded with violators. It is every citizen's fundamental duty to save our green spaces for the future generations and be a role model in these times of global warming. We are accountable for our next generations."

Here's what the High Court said

Vinay Vangala moved the Telangana High Court in March 2022 challenging the GHMC's inaction in not removing the illegal structures which included the building of the colony association, open-air sheds, and a temple raised by Matrusri Nagar Residents Welfare Association in the public park belonging to the GHMC.

Akhil Ennamsetty, counsel appearing for the petitioner, contended that there is an apex court ruling prohibiting any such structures in public places.

Noting serious negligence on part of the GHMC, Justice Lalitha Kanneganti Bench made serious observations in its order and said the officials of GHMC have colluded with the encroachers and directed the corporation to initiate appropriate action as per the law and file a compliance report before it within a month.

Since the structures remained there even months after the directions of the High Court, Vinay Vangala moved the High Court with a contempt case against the GHMC officials in July 2022, following which in September the GHMC proceeded with demolishing the open-air sheds in the park.

Aggrieved by this action, the colony association moved a lunch-motion petition the next day but the High Court dismissed their plea observing that there shall be no change in the existing directions to demolish the structures.

The colony association, on 20 October, moved an appeal before the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice C.V. Bhaskar Reddy seeking stay on demolishment.

The Division Bench expressed surprise over the appeal made by the colony association and said that it is not a case for them to interfere in. It also observed that the said structures should be immediately dismantled in light of the recent Noida Supertech Twin Towers case.

The Bench further observed that the GHMC officials are even liable for prosecution for having allowed constructions in a public park and that they will dismiss the appeal with costs. The counsel for the colony association apologised to the court for filing the appeal and said he will withdraw the same.