No permission for shopping complex built on temple lands

 Tandur:  The shopping complex built in place of Hanuman Choultry in the town has no permission from civic body, notices have been served on the builder and recommendation was made to lodge a criminal case against the builder, clarifies municipal commissioner Bhogeswarlu.

Talking to The Hans India here on Sunday, the municipal commissioner said that the matter has been taken to the notice of higher authorities and maintained that he would act according to their recommendation. 

It may be recalled that a two-storeyed shopping complex was built on the Hanuman Mandir site in the town by vested interests without securing permissions from the civic body

Electricity department Assistant Director Bhanot Ramdas has said that a no-objection certificate was necessary to give electricity connection to the shopping complex and also files of endowments department are also required for the same. 

Quoting municipal councilor Aravind Kumar, he said as the structure was illegal the councilor in writing asked the authorities not to give power connection to the shopping complex. 

He alleged that the higher authorities are turning a blind eye to construction of a shopping complex in government lands.

It may be recalled that a two-storeyed shopping complex was built on the Hanuman Mandir site in the town by vested interests without securing permissions from the civic body. Devotees visit the temple from far off places like Bidar in Karnataka, Mahabubnagar and Zaheerabad. A Hanuman choultry was built for their convenience. 

But the vested interests without securing permission from Endowments department and not paying any fees to the civic body raised the two-storeyed structure. 

In fact, the endowments department should apply for permission to the civic body clearing all tax dues. Then it should call for open tenders. The contractor who had quoted the lowest figures would be invited to build the structure. 

The procedure was bypassed and illegal structure was raised in the temple lands. Even Transport Mahender Reddy was kept in the dark about the legality of the structure and got it inaugurated by the minister.

By G Ashok Kumar