The Deccan Chronicle 17.08.2010
Land sharks target empty spacesHyderabad, Aug. 16: Encroachers are eyeing open lands worth `5,000 crore meant for parks and community welfare projects in Greater Hyderabad limits since they are not protected by either compound walls or fences. Though the GHMC has announced that it is spending nearly `100 crore on protection of all open lands, nothing is being done in reality. There are over 3,000 open spaces in the surrounding municipalities with Serilingampally having nearly (130), Malkajgiri - (175), Qutbullahpur - (230), Alwal - (250), LB Nagar - (250), Uppal - (200), Kapra - (350), and Rajendranagar - (250). Likewise, there are about 1,000 open spaces at various places in the core city. The GHMC additional commissioner (planning and projects), Mr K. Dhanunjaya Reddy, said all these open spaces would have compound walls by the end of December 2010.
“Compound walls have been constructed in 50 per cent of the open lands owned by the GHMC and contracts have been given for other lands,” he said.
The corporation also plans to hire private security guards to protect the lands in the wake of land sharks encroaching upon a large number of open spaces with the connivance of the officials.
