The Times of India 11.08.2010
GHMC rules block own building plan
HYDERABAD: A multi-storied building proposed for council hall-cum-office complex of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) at Lower Tank Bund is caught in the civic body's own building rules.
Plans and designs with built-up space for the proposed high-rise building were found to be not in accordance with the building by-laws by its town planners. Interestingly, the proposed site at Lower Tank Bund has also run in to land use problems.
With the problems of plan and land use, works of the mega multi-storied building could not be started even after one-and-half years of laying of foundation stone. The late chief minister, Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, had laid foundation stone for the Rs 50-crore hall-cum-office complex on February 18, 2009.
Officials sources said while the GHMC proposed about 15 metres with two lakh sqaure feet built-up area for council hall-cum-office complex and another one lakh built-up area for parking, but as per building rules, built-up area on one acre area land cannot be over two lakh built-up area.
"Based on the road width and set backs on the plot, buildings of about 12 floors will be allowed," a town planner told TOI.
Then, alternative proposals for the two lakh built-up area are being suggested by the town planning officials.
As per the suggestions, one alternative is to have 11.80 floors with a height of 40 metres. In this building, three floors with 64,950 sft for parking and another 8.80 floors with a built-up space of 1,30,500 sft for council hall-cum-office. Another alternative is to have 10.42 floors. On the 45 metres height building, only 66,790 sft for parking and 1,23,650 sft for hall-cum-office can be earmarked.
With regard to land use, sources said the land was marked as a dumping yard, while the government office complex can be allowed only on public or semi-public use.
While the GHMC sought change of land use for the piece of land, the municipal administration and urban development (MA&UD) department has reportedly asked the officials to get land use changed in the master plan which was under preparation.
"The GHMC requested the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) to incorporate change in land use of that area in the revised master plan, which was accepted by them," GHMC chief city planner G V Raghu told TOI.
Officials said bids for construction of the green building could not be taken up with problems in finalising plans and financial crisis in the corporation.
