The Times of India           30.07.2013

361 buildings pulled down: GHMC chief

HYDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has demolished 361 dilapidated buildings of 654 identified, according to commissioner MT Krishna Babu said. Another 293 notices have been issued to owners of decades-old buildings for strengthening their structures and they would be demolished if they fail to renovate these structures.

Interacting with newsmen here on Monday, the commissioner said the corporation was getting information to call centre '155304' on the dilapidated buildings which were being inspected by the assistant city planner and executive engineers of the respective circles. If any confusion arises regarding the strength and stability of the building, cases were being referred to third party like JNTU.

On complaints pertaining to encroachment of park land at Rock Town Residential Welfare Society near L B Nagar, the commissioner said GHMC had already taken up construction of compound walls of open spaces and parks to safeguard its properties. He said 700 open spaces were protected from encroachments by constructing compound walls in the past three years.

With regard to Ramzan and Bonalu festivals

The commissioner added that Rs 10 crore for Bonalu and Rs 12 crore for Ramzan was sanctioned to take up works like sanitation improvement, deploying additional vehicles for lifting debris in and around places of worship, providing temporary streetlights and toilets wherever required.