The Hindu        Telangana  (Hyderabad)  28.09.2016

240 illegal structures demolished in Hyderabad

LAW WAKES UP:Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation workers pulling down an illegal structure on Tuesday.— Photo: Nagara Gopal

In a swift move, the Telangana government razed down more than 200 illegal structures on a single day on Tuesday in various parts of the Greater Hyderabad region.

The Telangana government, which had promised to act severely on encroachments and illegal constructions on nullahs and lakes, sent squads comprising municipal, revenue, police and other department officials to remove structures in all the 24 circles under the control of the civic body. In two days, the number of illegal structures demolished crossed 240.

In some areas like Gachibowli, Banjara Hills, Malkajgiri, Ashok Nagar, Yellareddyguda, Balanagar and Kapra, residential and commercial structures built on nullahs were demolished. In Deepti Sri Nagar in Nizampet, which was flooded in recent rains, four buildings were brought down.

The squads also pulled down unauthorised floors and buildings. Pillars and floors were broken down in Somajiguda, Kawadiguda, LB Nagar and other areas. A number of dilapidated structures were also bulldozed. The squads were instructed to initially go after illegal structures that were commercial with no court order in their favour.

Some residents tried but failed to prevent the authorities from carrying out the demolitions. Property owners argued that the drive was illegal as they were not given prior notice.

Responding to the State government’s call for information on illegal constructions, 118 complaints were received on the GHMC helpline.

The government has kept 3,639 houses ready for BPL families who will be affected in the drive. These houses, located on the city outskirts in Qutbullapur, Shamshabad and Bandlaguda, were built under the JNNURM housing scheme. GHMC officials also conducted a check on 379 hotels and slapped Rs 1.4 lakh in penalties for offences such as illegal dumping of waste.

The Hindu     Maharashtra (Mumbai)     28.09.2016     

Panvel is now a municipal corporation

The Maharashtra government on Tuesday issued a notification declaring Panvel a municipal corporation. The formation of Panvel Municipal Corporation has also covered Taleja MIDC, CIDCO areas and scores of gram panchayats.

The Municipal Corporation of Panvel now becomes the ninth corporation in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The others being Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan –Dombivali, Ulhasnagar, Mira Bhayandar, Bhiwandi, Navi Mumbai and Vasai-Virar.

Officials said as many as 68 revenue villages in Panvel taluka had wished to become part of the PMC, but not all have been included.

The notification reclassifying Panvel council to a corporation said: “With effect from October 1, 2016, the whole of Panvel Municipal Council smaller urban area and the areas specified in the schedule, shall be larger urban area, known by the name of the Municipal Corporation of the City of Panvel.”

Senior officials said resolution to convert Panvel council to croporation was passed by the general body of Panvel Municipal Council (PMC) last year. The land for construction of a new Civic House, construction of at least 115 wards in the corporation and their offices have been shortlisted. The areas of Kharghar and Kamothe will also be part of the corporation.

The notification to convert Panvel into a corporation was first issued in 1991, but it was put on hold in the absence of a ground report on the requirement and needs of the area. The Bharatiya Janata Party government felt urbanisation and growth of population has been drastic and the need for the corporation was pushed by the government.