Hyderabad, April 09: When it comes to demolishing an unauthorised building belonging to poor or middle class people, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) generally spares no time to raze them.
However, it seems when the state government constructs a multi-storeyed building, that too very close to a heritage building without seeking any permission from the GHMC, the corporation is a silent spectator which allows the building to be completed.
The case in point is the Protocol department building, a five-storey construction which has come up less than 100 metres from the Jubilee hall, a notified heritage building, without any GHMC permission.
The issue came to light when MLC member Syed Amin Jaffri raised the issue in the general body meeting yesterday. The meeting was rocked when corporators took strong exception to demolition of illegal constructions and levying of 600 percent penalty on these buildings.
GHMC additional commissioner (Planning), K Dhananjaya Reddy admitted in the meeting that the building near the Jubilee hall, which is a heritage structure, was illegal.
GH MC officials told Express that about three years ago, the Protocol department approached for permission to construct a five-storey building.
The corporation then referred the matter to the Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC) which is under the Hyderabad Development Authority (HMDA). As the process got delayed, the Protocol and Roads and Building departments went ahead with the construction without obtaining permission from the GHMC and clearance from the HCC.
—Agencies