The Times of India 24.12.2014
GHMC’s demolition drive in Old City draws traders’ ire
HYDERABAD:
Traders on Tuesday objected to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal
Corporation’s demolition drive along the Kali Kaman – Gulzar Houz
stretch for road widening.
GHMC officials told TOI that the
corporation was unable to proceed with demolition of eight properties
belonging to the same person since 2005 on account of court cases.
However, with the cases being settled and cheques being handed over as
compensation for land acquisition, the GHMC was now able to go ahead
with the demolition for road widening.
No sooner than the
corporation began the demolition, mild tension prevailed. Businessmen,
who are tenants in the affected properties, raised a hue and cry. They
claimed that the GHMC had not given them adequate time to vacate their
places of business.
“If is festival season. Business will be severely affected if we are asked to vacate immediately,” a trader said.
However, GHMC officials said that the traders were aware of the
proceeding of the court with respect to the acquisition of properties.
“We explained to them that demolition will happen as scheduled as
compensation was handed over,” said GHMC section officer Mehdi Ali, who
was supervising the demolition.