New GHMC law planned to clear encroachments on water bodies: KTR

Hyderabad: The Government of Telangana State is contemplating bringing a new GHMC Act which will enable levying of heavy penalties and demolition without notice for constructions taken up on lakebeds or stormwater drains, encroachments on any full tank level or buffer zone of water bodies.

Speaking at the Marri Channa Reddy Human Resource Development (MCRHRD) institute on Monday, Minister for Municipal Administration K T Rama Rao said that the recent floods had affected a large number of people. "Disaster that was witnessed was the result of decades of permitting encroachments on water bodies due to rapid urbanisation. It has also happened because the officials looked the other way may be due to plain greed but it will not be allowed anymore. It was time harsh measures were taken since the very future of the city was at stake and a permanent solution was the need of the hour," he said.

KTR recalled how similar incidents happened in Bengaluru and Mumbai and how he had to carry his laptop on his shoulders in heavy rains in the financial capital of the country.

The minister further said that the new GHMC Act would be brought either in January or February after seeking legal advice to avoid any kind of litigation and hurdles in its implementation.

The government took a decision to have a separate wing for the maintenance and preservation of the lakes inside the outer ring road. It had also decided to appoint a task force with officials from Irrigation, Water Board, Revenue, HMDA and some other departments. The task force officials would check the water levels in the water bodies including lakes. He said that for a planned development, the government was bringing some stringent rules in the new GHMC Act. He hoped that the people would be honest in giving the self-certification in the building permissions.

The minister said that once the new GHMC Act was introduced, the government will also come up with the Transferable Development Rights (TDR bank).